The Problem with YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts are designed to be addictive. The endless vertical scroll format, combined with algorithmic content selection, makes it easy to lose 30 minutes or more without realizing it. For many people, Shorts have become the single biggest time drain on YouTube.
Blocking Shorts with Unhook
The Unhook browser extension makes it easy to completely block YouTube Shorts:
- Install Unhook on your browser
- Click the Unhook icon in your toolbar
- Find the "Hide Shorts" toggle and turn it on
- YouTube Shorts will be hidden from all pages
What Gets Hidden
When you enable the Shorts blocker, Unhook removes:
- The Shorts shelf on the homepage
- The Shorts tab in navigation
- Shorts suggestions in search results
- Shorts recommendations in the sidebar
Benefits of Blocking Shorts
Users who block Shorts report spending significantly less time on YouTube while still being able to watch the long-form content they enjoy. It's one of the most popular features of the Unhook extension, with many users citing it as the primary reason they installed the extension.
Conclusion
If YouTube Shorts are eating into your productivity, the Unhook extension offers a simple, free solution. Block Shorts while keeping everything else you love about YouTube.