Banish the Buzz: How to Remove YouTube Shorts from Your Desktop Computer

Understanding the Problem

The endless scroll. The bite-sized videos. YouTube Shorts have become a pervasive part of the online experience, and while they offer quick bursts of entertainment for some, many desktop computer users find them intrusive and disruptive to their preferred way of browsing the platform. If you’re one of those individuals, tired of Shorts crowding your feed and recommendations, you’re in the right place. This article delves into the ways you can take back control of your YouTube experience on your desktop, significantly reducing or even eliminating the presence of these short-form videos. Get ready to reclaim your viewing time and enjoy a more personalized YouTube experience!

YouTube, powered by its intricate algorithm, continuously learns from your viewing habits. This powerful system analyzes your watch history, likes, dislikes, and search queries to curate a personalized content feed. However, in recent times, Shorts have become increasingly prominent, often prioritized alongside longer-form content in your recommendations and on the home page. This is due to YouTube’s push to compete with platforms like TikTok, encouraging users to create and watch short-form content. For those of us who primarily consume longer videos or prefer a less fragmented browsing experience, this can lead to a frustrating user interface and a significant distraction.

The problem manifests in several ways. Shorts frequently populate the home page, dominating the primary viewing area. They show up in your subscription feed, often overshadowing content from channels you actively follow. The “Up Next” queue, designed to seamlessly transition you to related videos, frequently features Shorts, disrupting the flow of your chosen content. This constant presence of Shorts can be particularly frustrating on a desktop computer, where the larger screen and more focused viewing experience often lend themselves to longer-form content.

It’s crucial to understand the scope of the challenge. While achieving complete eradication of Shorts from your desktop experience is likely impossible, several methods can significantly minimize their presence and help tailor your feed. The goal here is not to eliminate Shorts entirely but to control your exposure to them, creating a more engaging and enjoyable YouTube environment.

Methods to Minimize Shorts Exposure

Let’s explore the practical steps you can take to reduce the visibility of YouTube Shorts on your desktop computer.

Utilizing YouTube’s Built-in Features

YouTube itself offers a set of tools you can leverage to influence your recommendations and gradually diminish the presence of Shorts. While these tools may not offer immediate results, consistent usage can significantly impact your personalized feed over time.

The Power of Non-Engagement: One of the simplest, yet often overlooked, methods is simply to avoid engaging with Shorts. Refrain from clicking on Shorts thumbnails if you don’t want to watch them. This non-interaction sends a clear signal to the algorithm that you’re not interested in that type of content. Avoid liking or disliking Shorts. These actions, both positive and negative, contribute to the algorithm’s understanding of your preferences. By passively ignoring Shorts, you can subtly influence the platform to show you less of this type of content.

The “Not Interested” Option: YouTube provides a specific feature designed to help refine your recommendations. When you encounter a Short you’d rather not see, locate the three vertical dots (the options menu) next to the video. Within this menu, you’ll find the option “Not interested.” Selecting this tells YouTube that you’re not interested in that particular video and potentially others like it. While the impact might not be immediately visible, consistent use of this feature will help train the algorithm to filter out content that doesn’t align with your interests. This is a proactive step towards building a more curated feed.

Hide the Channels That Create Shorts: Often, Shorts come from channels that primarily focus on this format. You have the option to hide these channels from your home feed and other areas within YouTube. When viewing a Short from a channel you don’t enjoy, find the channel name and click on the three vertical dots next to it. From there, you should see the option to “Don’t recommend channel.” This will help keep the Short creators out of your feed and improve your watching experience.

Preventing Shorts from the “Up Next” Queue: The “Up Next” queue can be a major source of Shorts intrusion. Unfortunately, there isn’t a direct “Remove” button for individual videos in the “Up Next” queue. However, you can influence what appears here. The algorithm considers what you’ve been watching recently. When you finish watching a video, before you start a new one, see if the “Up Next” queue has any Shorts listed. If so, consider browsing for another longer-form video, or a channel you prefer, and watch that instead. This can change the “Up Next” selection to match the longer-form videos.

Browser Extensions: Your Arsenal Against Shorts

While YouTube’s built-in features provide a degree of control, the most effective strategies often involve the use of browser extensions. These add-ons offer a level of customization that goes beyond what YouTube provides natively, enabling you to tailor your viewing experience more precisely.

What are Browser Extensions?: Browser extensions are small software programs that integrate with your web browser. They modify and enhance the functionality of websites, allowing you to customize your online experience in various ways. Think of them as tools that give you greater control over how you interact with the internet.

Recommended Extensions: Several browser extensions are specifically designed to help remove or minimize the presence of Shorts on YouTube. Here are a few of the most effective:

Enhancer for YouTube: This is a highly popular and versatile extension, available for various browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. It offers a wide range of customization options beyond just removing Shorts. This tool lets you configure several elements of the YouTube interface. Installation is usually as simple as finding the extension in your browser’s web store and clicking “Add to [Browser Name]”. After installation, the extension icon typically appears in your browser’s toolbar.

Configuration: After installing, navigate to the extension’s settings or options panel. Look for settings related to Shorts, specifically options that allow you to:
Hide Shorts from the home page.
Remove Shorts from the “Up Next” queue.
Hide Shorts in the subscriptions feed.
Automatically block Shorts from playing.
Experiment with these settings to find a configuration that meets your individual needs.

YouTube Filter or Custom Blockers: Some extensions are specifically created for filtering content based on various criteria. They provide an option to create custom filters.
How to Use a Filter: Find the extension in your browser’s extension store and install it. Once installed, open the settings and find the “Filter” section. Some extensions might have a pre-built filter for Shorts, while others require you to set it up manually.
Setting up a Custom Filter: Look for instructions or examples that show you how to create a filter to hide or block Shorts. This usually involves entering rules that match Shorts, such as titles, URLs, or descriptions. This ensures Shorts are removed from your viewing experience.

Installation and Configuration Guidance:

Find the Extension: Go to your browser’s extension store. Search for the specific extension name (e.g., “Enhancer for YouTube”).
Install the Extension: Click the “Add to [Your Browser]” button to install the extension. Your browser might ask for permissions; review them carefully.
Access the Extension: Once installed, the extension icon usually appears in your browser’s toolbar.
Open Settings: Click the extension icon to access its settings menu.
Customize Your Settings: Navigate to the sections related to Shorts.
Test and Refine: Refresh YouTube to ensure the changes are applied and that Shorts are removed.

Optimizing Your YouTube Experience for Long-Form Content

Beyond simply removing Shorts, you can proactively shape your YouTube recommendations to favor longer-form content. This involves a combination of actions that teach the algorithm what you enjoy and minimize the influence of short-form videos.

Engage with Longer Videos: Make a conscious effort to watch more longer-form content. The more you watch videos of a certain length, the more the algorithm learns that you favor this type of content. This includes watching videos to their conclusion, as this provides a strong signal to the algorithm.

Like, Comment, and Subscribe: Actively interacting with longer videos reinforces your preferences. Liking videos, leaving thoughtful comments, and subscribing to channels that create longer-form content all provide positive signals to the algorithm. These actions help signal that you prefer and want more content from these sources.

Curate with Playlists: Create playlists of the long-form content you enjoy. Playlists tell YouTube that you’re interested in related videos.

Fine-Tuning Your Watch History: Reviewing your watch history can help you identify content that doesn’t align with your preferences. Click your profile icon on YouTube, go to “History,” and carefully review the videos you’ve watched. Remove or “Not interested” specific videos or channels that produce a lot of Shorts. Regularly cleaning your watch history will contribute to a more curated and enjoyable viewing experience.

Manage Your Subscriptions: Carefully evaluate your subscriptions list. Unsubscribe from channels that primarily produce Shorts, as these are likely contributing to the presence of these videos on your feed. Focus on subscribing to channels that create the longer-form content you enjoy. This gives the algorithm more data to guide recommendations.

Troubleshooting Common Challenges

Even with the best methods, you might encounter some challenges. Here are some common issues and potential solutions:

Extension Ineffectiveness: Sometimes, browser extensions may stop working or be less effective.
Update the Extension: Ensure the extension is updated to the latest version.
Disable and Re-enable: Try disabling the extension and then re-enabling it.
Check for Conflicts: Other extensions might be interfering. Disable other extensions one by one to identify any conflicts.
Restart Your Browser: Restarting the browser can often resolve minor issues.
Uninstall and Reinstall: Uninstall and then reinstall the extension.

Persistent Shorts: Even with extensions, some Shorts might slip through.
Double-Check Settings: Ensure the extension’s settings are configured to block or hide Shorts from all relevant areas (home page, subscriptions, “Up Next” queue).
Use Multiple Methods: Use a combination of the built-in features and extension to minimize the appearance of Shorts.

Interface Changes: YouTube regularly updates its interface. This might require adjusting the extension’s settings or finding alternative solutions if the interface changes impact functionality.

Conclusion

Taking control of your YouTube experience on your desktop computer, and reducing the presence of Shorts, isn’t about completely shutting out the platform’s short-form content. It’s about establishing a viewing environment that prioritizes your preferences. While achieving a 100% elimination of Shorts might be challenging, a range of methods, from leveraging YouTube’s internal features to utilizing powerful browser extensions, empowers you to regain control. By actively managing your preferences, refining your recommendations, and carefully curating your viewing experience, you can create a more focused and enjoyable YouTube environment. So, embrace these methods, experiment to find what works best for you, and enjoy a desktop YouTube experience tailored to your tastes.

Now, take action! Personalize your YouTube experience. Experiment with the methods and tools discussed above to create a more engaging and fulfilling online experience.