YouTube is giving users a new way to reduce Shorts exposure inside the app, and the change is designed to make the opening screen less distracting. By setting Shorts watch time to zero minutes, the short-video feed no longer appears on the app’s home page.
The option expands a previous limit that only allowed a minimum of 15 minutes. When the zero-minute setting is active, users who try to open Shorts will see a notice that the watch time has ended instead of being dropped into the feed.
A control that reduces exposure, not removes Shorts completely
The new setting does not delete Shorts from YouTube. Short-form videos can still appear in other parts of the platform, including the subscriptions tab or through direct links.
That makes the feature more of a screen control tool than a full removal option. For users who want to open YouTube without immediately facing a stream of short videos, the change offers a cleaner starting point.
From parental control to a broader user option
The Shorts restriction was originally introduced to help parents manage how children use the app. It has now been expanded and is available to all users on Android and iOS devices.
That wider access shows YouTube is treating the feature as more than a family setting. It is also being positioned as a personal preference tool for people who want to shape their own viewing experience.
How the setting works in the app
Users need to open the app settings first and then go to the time management section. From there, the Shorts viewing limit can be adjusted to zero minutes according to preference.
Once the setting is saved, YouTube will show a notification when users try to access Shorts. The app then shifts attention toward other content that may better match the user’s purpose.
- Open the YouTube app settings.
- Enter the time management section.
- Set the Shorts watch limit to zero minutes.
- Save the setting and reopen the app.
Why the change matters for viewing habits
For some users, the update may help maintain focus on longer videos without being interrupted by a constant flow of short-form content. It also reflects a growing recognition that some people want tighter control over how much Shorts they see.
This matters because Shorts often becomes the first thing people encounter when the app opens. With the new limit in place, users gain more control over the initial view and can cut down on distractions from the start.
