YouTube gives Shorts an off switch
YouTube now lets users set their Shorts daily feed to zero minutes, effectively removing Shorts from the home feed if they want to — the option is rolling out now (theverge.com) (9to5google.com). The change arrives alongside livestream ad tweaks aimed at reducing ads during purchase moments and chat spikes, signaling platform changes for both short‑form and live creators (techrepublic.com).
YouTube is rolling out a setting that lets people set their Shorts feed limit to zero minutes, effectively stripping Shorts from the mobile home feed. (theverge.com) The option appears in the YouTube app’s time-management controls on Android and iPhone, where users can now choose a Shorts feed limit of zero instead of the previous 15-minute minimum. Google’s YouTube Help page says the menu includes a zero-minute choice. (9to5google.com) (support.google.com) When that limit is reached, YouTube pauses the Shorts feed for the day, but short videos can still show up in places like subscriptions or direct links. The Verge reported the zero-minute setting is already live for parental controls and is now rolling out more broadly. (theverge.com) (androidpolice.com) YouTube first announced daily Shorts limits in October 2025 as a screen-time tool, not a full product shutdown. At launch, the company framed the feature as a way to interrupt endless scrolling, with limits starting at 15 minutes. (tech.yahoo.com) (support.google.com) The change lands as YouTube is also adjusting a different part of the app: livestream ads. This week, YouTube said it will hold back ads during spikes in live chat activity and plans ad-free windows after purchases such as Super Chat, Super Stickers, and gifts. (techrepublic.com) (techcrunch.com) Those livestream changes are aimed at moments when creators are trying to keep viewers focused on a live reaction, a sales pitch, or a fan purchase. TechRepublic reported YouTube is reducing interruptions during purchase moments and chat surges rather than inserting ads at the same pace regardless of what is happening on screen. (techrepublic.com) For viewers, the two updates move in opposite directions: one cuts down a feed designed for rapid repeat viewing, and the other tries to make live viewing feel less broken up. For creators, they leave Shorts and live video in place while changing how aggressively YouTube pushes them or monetizes them. (theverge.com) (techcrunch.com) YouTube is not removing Shorts from the platform, and it is not promising an ad-free live experience for everyone. It is giving users a zero-minute brake on one product and giving livestream creators a little more protection around the moments they most want viewers to see uninterrupted. (support.google.com) (techrepublic.com)
