How to permanently remove Shorts on YouTube on Android: all methods

Video format YouTube Shorts has firmly taken its place in the recommendations feed, but not all users like the endless scrolling of vertical videos. If you prefer classic content and want disable Shorts in YouTube on Android, this article will help you understand all the available methods - from standard settings to advanced technical solutions.

It is important to understand that Google actively promotes short videos, so completely removing Shorts from the application without consequences is impossible. However, there are workarounds, from filtering content to using alternative clients. We tested each method on current versions YouTube (2026) and collected only working solutions.

If you don’t want to waste time on experiments, go straight to method with ADB, which gives the maximum effect. For the rest, we will analyze in detail all the options, including their pros and cons.

Why Shorts appear in the feed and can they be removed forever

The algorithm YouTube adjusts recommendations to the user's behavior. If you have viewed Shortsat least once, the system will offer them more often. Even if there is no interaction with short videos, they may appear in:

• 📌 Main feed (Home)
• 🔍 Search results (at the top of the search results)
• 🔔 Tab Shorts (separate section)
• 📱 Pop-up notifications

At the official level, Google does not provide the option to completely disable Shorts, but there are ways to minimize their presence. The effectiveness of the methods varies from partial hiding to almost complete removal (with the exception of rare pop-up banners).

It is worth noting that some solutions require technical skills or the installation of third-party software. If you are not ready to experiment, start with the simplest methods from the next section.

Simple methods: settings and filters without technical manipulations

These methods do not require superuser rights (root) or connection to a PC. They are suitable for most users, but provide only a partial effect.

1. Hiding the Shorts tab through YouTube settings

The most obvious, but least effective way:

1. Open the application YouTube and tap on your profile avatar.
2. Go to Settings → General.
3. Find the option Show the Shorts tab and disable it.

⚠️ Limitation: This only removes the separate tab, but Shorts will continue to appear in the main feed and search.

2. Filtering content by keywords

You can block Shorts impressions through the recommendation settings:

1. Open any Shorts, click on the three dots (⋮) → Don't like.
2. Select a reason: Not interesting or Too many Shorts.
3. Repeat the action for 5-10 videos - the algorithm will begin to offer similar content less often.

To enhance the effect:

• 🔄 Regularly clear your browsing history (Library → History).
• 🚫 Add channels from Shorts to Do not recommend (long press on the channel → ⋮ → Do not recommend the channel).

3. Using the browser version of YouTube

In the mobile browser (Chrome, Firefox) Shorts are displayed less often than in the application. To improve the experience:

• 🌐 Open m.youtube.com and request desktop version browser menu).
• 🔗 Add the site to the main screen as PWAapplication (in Chrome: ⋮ → Add to home screen).
• 🛡️ Install the extension for blocking elements (for example, uBlock Origin) and add a rule to hide blocks from Shorts.

Delete browsing history|Mark "Dislike" on 10+ Shorts|Clear application cache|Add problematic channels to the blacklist-->

Advanced methods: changing YouTube configuration

If standard methods do not help, you will have to resort to more radical measures. These methods require either installing third-party applications or working with ADB (a tool for debugging Android).

4. Installing alternative YouTube clients

Unofficial clients (for example, NewPipe, Vanced or ReVanced) allow you to completely disable Shorts and advertising. However, they have disadvantages:

To install NewPipe:

1. Download APK from official website (check the hash of the file!).
2. Allow installation from unknown sources (Settings → Security → Unknown sources).
3. Run NewPipe and in the settings disable the option Show Shorts.

5. Shorts via ADB (without root)

This method works on most devices with Android 8.0+ and does not require superuser rights. You will need:

• 🖥️ A computer with ADB drivers installed.
• 📱 Enabled USB debugging on the phone (Settings → About phone → Build number — tap 7 times, then Settings → System → For developers → USB debugging).
• 🔌 Cable USB-TypeC (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm permission for debugging.
2. Open the command line (CMD or Terminal) and enter:

   adb shell pm clear com.google.android.youtube

   This will reset YouTube settings.

3. Then run the command to disable Shorts:

   adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.youtube.app.common.service.suggestedaction.SuggestedActionService

4. Reboot your phone.

⚠️ Attention: After updating YouTube via Google Play Shorts may return. To avoid this, disable automatic application updates or use Aurora Store to install patched versions.

Radical methods: for experienced users

If you are ready to go to extreme measures, these methods will give 100% results, but will require deep changes in the system.

6. Blocking via hosts file (requires root)

File modification hosts allows you to block the loading of Shorts content at the DNS level. To do this:

1. Install a file manager with support root (for example, Root Explorer).
2. Open the file /system/etc/hosts in a text editor.
3. Add the lines:

   127.0.0.1 youtubei.googleapis.com
   127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com/api/stats/qoe

4. Save the file and restart the device.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect editing hosts may disrupt the Internet. Before making changes, make a backup copy of the file!

7. Removing YouTube via Magisk (for firmware devices)

If your phone has Magiskinstalled, you can completely remove the built-in YouTube and install a modified version:

1. Download the module YouTube ReVanced Magisk Module from repository Magisk.
2. Install the module via Magisk Manager and reboot the phone.
3. In the module settings, disable the option Enable Shorts.

The advantage of this method is automatic update of patches without manual intervention.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube

What to do if Shorts is gone still appear

Even after applying all the methods YouTube may sometimes show Shorts in searches or recommendations. Here's how to minimize their appearance:

• 🔄 Reset personal recommendations:
  1. Go to YouTube Settings → History and privacy.
  2. Click Delete browsing history and select All time.
  3. Disable option View history (this will stop personalization).
• 📵 Disable notifications:
  1. Go to YouTube Settings → Notifications.
  2. Disable everything options related to Shorts and Recommendations.

If none of the methods worked, consider using YouTube Premium. Although Shorts are not completely disabled there, their number is reduced, and the absence of advertising improves the viewing experience.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about disabling Shorts

If you have tested all the methods, but Shorts continue to spoil the viewing experience - consider switching to alternative platforms like Odysee or PeerTube, where there is no imposed short content. However, their audience and video library are significantly inferior YouTube.