How to Block YouTube Shorts on Any Device (2026 Guide)

YouTube Shorts have become the platform's most aggressive feature. The endless scroll, the autoplay, the algorithmic rabbit hole — it's designed to keep you watching far longer than you intended. For anyone trying to focus, study, or simply reclaim their time, Shorts are the enemy.

The good news? You can block them. This guide covers every method to block YouTube Shorts across all your devices — from browser extensions to app-level blocking that YouTube can't detect or bypass.

Why Block YouTube Shorts?

Before diving into solutions, let's be clear about the problem:

• Dopamine hijacking — Short-form content triggers rapid dopamine hits, making it harder to focus on longer tasks
• Time sink — "Just one more" turns into 30 minutes of scrolling
• Algorithm manipulation — Shorts push content you never subscribed to, training you to consume passively
• Focus destruction — The rapid-fire format trains your brain for distraction, not concentration
• Productivity killer — Studies show context switching (like checking Shorts) can cost 25 minutes of focus recovery

If you're trying to do deep work, study, or simply be more intentional with your time, blocking Shorts is one of the highest-impact changes you can make.

Method 1: Browser Extensions (Desktop)

The easiest way to block Shorts on desktop is with a browser extension.

Recommended Extensions

• Unhook — Removes Shorts, recommendations, and other distracting YouTube features
• DF YouTube (Distraction Free) — Hides Shorts, comments, and sidebars
• BlockTube — Block channels, keywords, and entire features like Shorts
• Return YouTube Dislike — Also has Shorts hiding options

How to Install (Chrome/Edge/Brave)

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store
2. Search for "Unhook" or "DF YouTube"
3. Click "Add to Chrome"
4. Configure settings to hide Shorts

Firefox Users

1. Open Firefox Add-ons (about:addons)
2. Search for "Unhook" or "DF Tube"
3. Install and configure

Method 2: YouTube App Settings (Mobile)

YouTube's built-in controls are limited, but there are some options:

Disable Shorts History

1. Open YouTube app
2. Tap your profile picture
3. Go to Settings → History & Privacy
4. Turn off "Shorts history"

This won't hide Shorts, but it stops them from influencing your recommendations.

Use "Not Interested"

1. When you see a Short, tap the three dots
2. Select "Not interested" or "Don't recommend channel"
3. Repeat consistently

This trains the algorithm, but it's a losing battle — YouTube will always push Shorts because they drive engagement metrics.

Switch to YouTube Music or YouTube TV

These separate apps don't have Shorts at all. If you primarily use YouTube for music or live content, consider switching.

Method 3: DNS-Level Blocking

For network-wide blocking, you can use DNS filtering:

Pi-hole or AdGuard Home

1. Set up Pi-hole or AdGuard Home on your network
2. Add blocklists that target YouTube Shorts domains
3. All devices on your network will be affected

YouTube Shorts Domains to Block

# Add these to your blocklist
www.youtube.com/shorts
m.youtube.com/shorts

Warning: This method is unreliable because Shorts content is served from the same CDN as regular videos. You can't block them without breaking YouTube entirely.

Method 4: Modified YouTube Apps (Android)

On Android, you have more options:

ReVanced / ReVanced Extended

ReVanced is an open-source project that patches the YouTube app:

• Completely removes Shorts shelf
• Removes Shorts button from navigation
• Blocks Shorts in search results
• Also blocks ads and enables background play

NewPipe

NewPipe is a completely separate YouTube client that doesn't have Shorts at all:

• No Shorts, no ads, no tracking
• Background play included
• Download videos for offline
• Open source and privacy-focused

Method 5: App-Level Blocking (macOS) — The Best Solution

For Mac users who want bulletproof Shorts blocking that works everywhere — in browsers, in apps, even in Electron wrappers — the answer is system-level website blocking.

DeepZone: The Focus App That Actually Works

DeepZone is a macOS focus app that blocks distracting websites and apps at the system level. Unlike browser extensions that YouTube can detect and work around, DeepZone intercepts connections before they reach any app.

Key Features for Blocking Shorts

• URL-level blocking — Block youtube.com/shorts specifically while keeping regular YouTube accessible
• Keyword blocking — Block any page containing "shorts" in the URL
• Schedule-based — Block Shorts during work hours, allow them evenings
• Lock Mode — Prevent yourself from disabling the block during focus sessions
• Works everywhere — Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Arc, Electron apps, everything

How to Block YouTube Shorts with DeepZone

1. Download DeepZone from deepzone.app
2. Create a new profile (e.g., "Deep Work")
3. Add a website block: youtube.com/shorts
4. Optionally add keyword: shorts
5. Enable the profile — Shorts are now blocked system-wide

Why DeepZone Over Browser Extensions?

DeepZone costs $19.99 one-time (lifetime license) — less than one month of most subscription apps. For anyone serious about focus and productivity, it pays for itself in the first week.

→ Download DeepZone

Method 6: Windows App-Level Blocking

Windows users can use similar approaches:

Cold Turkey Blocker

• Block specific URLs including youtube.com/shorts
• Lock mode to prevent bypass
• Schedule-based blocking
• $39 one-time purchase

Freedom

• Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)
• Sync blocks across devices
• $8.99/month or $40/year

FocusMe

• Website and app blocking
• Pomodoro timer built-in
• $29.99/year

Method 7: Hosts File Modification (Advanced)

For the technically inclined, you can modify your system's hosts file:

macOS/Linux

# Edit hosts file
sudo nano /etc/hosts

# Add this line (blocks Shorts page)
127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com/shorts

Windows

# Edit as Administrator
notepad C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

# Add
127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com/shorts

Warning: This doesn't actually work well because you can't block URL paths in hosts files — only full domains. You'd have to block all of youtube.com, which isn't the goal.

The Best Strategy: Layered Blocking

For maximum effectiveness, combine multiple methods:

1. Browser extension — Unhook or DF YouTube for visual removal
2. App-level blocker — DeepZone (Mac) or Cold Turkey (Windows) for system-wide blocking
3. Mobile — ReVanced/NewPipe (Android) or limit YouTube to browser-only (iOS)
4. Network — Pi-hole for additional filtering (optional)

This layered approach means even if one method fails, the others still protect you.

Dealing with Withdrawal

If you're used to Shorts, blocking them cold turkey can feel uncomfortable. Here's how to handle it:

• Replace the habit — When you feel the urge, have an alternative ready (read an article, step outside, do a quick stretch)
• Start with scheduled blocks — Block during work hours, allow evenings
• Use DeepZone's Quick Focus — Block for 25-minute Pomodoro sessions, then take a break
• Track your time — Use Screen Time (Mac/iOS) or Digital Wellbeing (Android) to see how much time you're reclaiming

FAQ

Can YouTube detect if I'm blocking Shorts?

Browser extensions can sometimes be detected, but app-level blockers like DeepZone work at the network level — YouTube has no way to know the request was blocked.

Will blocking Shorts affect my subscriptions?

No. Regular videos, your subscriptions, and everything else on YouTube works normally. Only the Shorts section and Shorts in search results are affected.

Can I block Shorts on just one profile?

With DeepZone, yes — you can create different profiles for work vs. leisure, each with different blocking rules.

What about YouTube Shorts in the mobile app?

On Android, use ReVanced or NewPipe. On iOS, your best option is to delete the YouTube app and only access YouTube through Safari with a content blocker enabled.

Is there a free option that works well?

Browser extensions like Unhook are free and work well for desktop browser usage. For comprehensive blocking, the paid tools (DeepZone, Cold Turkey) are worth the investment — they cost less than the value of one productive day.

Conclusion

YouTube Shorts are engineered to steal your attention. The platform has billions of dollars invested in making them as addictive as possible. You're not weak for struggling with them — you're human, and they're exploiting human psychology.

But you have tools to fight back. Browser extensions help, modified apps help more, and app-level blockers like DeepZone provide the nuclear option: complete, system-wide, bypass-proof blocking.

Your focus is worth protecting. Block the Shorts, reclaim your time, and get back to the work that matters.

For more focus and productivity tools, explore our Productivity category or check out our guide to self-hosted AI assistants.