How to Hide Reels on YouTube?

While YouTube does not feature "reels" in the same way platforms like Instagram do, the term often refers to YouTube Shorts, which are short-form, vertical videos integrated into the YouTube platform. It's important to understand that you cannot completely remove YouTube Shorts, as they are a core part of the YouTube experience. However, you can significantly minimize their visibility and interaction.

To effectively hide or reduce the presence of YouTube Shorts, consider the following methods:

1. Marking Shorts as "Not Interested"

This is a built-in feature that helps YouTube understand your preferences, reducing the likelihood of similar content appearing on your feed.

• On Mobile (YouTube App):
  1. When you see a Shorts video in your feed or within the Shorts shelf, tap the three-dot menu (•••) located next to the video title or thumbnail.
  2. From the options that appear, select "Not interested."
  3. You may also see an option to "Don't recommend channel" if you want to avoid all content from that specific creator.
• On Desktop (YouTube Website):
  1. Navigate to the YouTube homepage.
  2. Hover over a Shorts video thumbnail within the "Shorts" shelf.
  3. Click the three-dot menu (•••) that appears.
  4. Select "Not interested."

Benefits: This method is simple, built-in, and helps personalize your recommendations over time.
Limitations: It requires repetitive action for each Short or channel you want to hide, and it doesn't remove the entire "Shorts" shelf from your homepage.

2. Using Browser Extensions (Desktop Only)

For users accessing YouTube on a desktop browser, several extensions are designed to block or hide YouTube Shorts, offering a more permanent solution.

• How They Work: These extensions typically work by modifying the webpage's code (CSS or JavaScript) to hide the Shorts section, thumbnails, and even the "Shorts" tab itself.
• Installation:
  1. Open your web browser's extension store (e.g., Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons).
  2. Search for terms like "YouTube Shorts Blocker," "Hide YouTube Shorts," or "Unhook."
  3. Select a reputable extension and add it to your browser.
  4. Follow any specific setup instructions provided by the extension.

Benefits: Highly effective, provides a cleaner viewing experience, and automates the hiding process.
Limitations: Only works on desktop browsers, requires installing third-party software, and effectiveness can vary with YouTube updates.

3. Accessing YouTube via a Web Browser (Mobile & Desktop)

While the YouTube mobile app heavily promotes Shorts, accessing YouTube through a web browser (even on mobile devices) can sometimes result in Shorts being less prominent or easier to ignore.

• Mobile Browser: Instead of using the YouTube app, open your mobile browser (e.g., Chrome, Safari) and go to www.youtube.com. You can then opt to request the "desktop site" in your browser settings, which often changes the layout, potentially making Shorts less intrusive.
• Desktop Browser: As mentioned, desktop browsers offer more control, especially when combined with extensions.

Benefits: Can slightly reduce the immediate visibility of Shorts, especially on mobile if the desktop site is requested.
Limitations: The user interface might be less optimized for mobile browsing, and Shorts are still fundamentally present on the platform.

Here's a quick comparison of the methods:

By utilizing a combination of these strategies, particularly marking content as "Not Interested" and employing browser extensions on desktop, you can significantly reduce the appearance of YouTube Shorts and enhance your viewing experience.