Can you permanently disable YouTube Shorts?

In Reelmute, yes. YouTube opens with Shorts already removed from the home feed and from search, every session, with nothing to renew.

Why did YouTube Shorts come back after I turned them off?

YouTube's own Shorts controls have historically expired — the hide-the-shelf option lapsed after 30 days. Reelmute removes Shorts on the way in, so nothing lapses.

Do I still get my subscriptions and search?

Yes. Subscriptions, search, playlists and the videos you choose all work. Home recommendations and ads are switches you flip whenever you want those gone too.

Does this work in the YouTube iPhone app?

YouTube opens inside Reelmute, which is where the Shorts are gone. Shield the YouTube app itself with Screen Time and Reelmute becomes the way you watch YouTube.

How to turn off YouTube Shorts on iPhone

Open YouTube inside Reelmute and Shorts are already gone — off the home feed, out of search, and gone again next month. Search, subscriptions, and the video you actually came to watch all keep working.

YouTube without the feed that never ends.

One network free. €49.99 opens every network, for good.

Get Reelmute

What YouTube's own controls do

YouTube's controls for Shorts have moved around a lot, and the pattern has held throughout: they are temporary. The long-running one hid the Shorts shelf and expired after 30 days, which is why people who solved this last month are searching for it again today. Reelmute takes Shorts out on the way in, so there is no expiry date to diary and no shelf that quietly returns.

What Reelmute removes from YouTube

Shorts — already gone the moment YouTube opens in Reelmute. Home recommendations and ads go too, whenever you want them gone. DMs, profiles, posts and search keep working.

Reelmute opens each network in its own space and strips the feed out before the page draws, so there is nothing to switch on again tomorrow. Shield the native app with Screen Time and this becomes the way in.

Questions

Can you permanently disable YouTube Shorts?: In Reelmute, yes. YouTube opens with Shorts already removed from the home feed and from search, every session, with nothing to renew.
Why did YouTube Shorts come back after I turned them off?: YouTube's own Shorts controls have historically expired — the hide-the-shelf option lapsed after 30 days. Reelmute removes Shorts on the way in, so nothing lapses.
Do I still get my subscriptions and search?: Yes. Subscriptions, search, playlists and the videos you choose all work. Home recommendations and ads are switches you flip whenever you want those gone too.
Does this work in the YouTube iPhone app?: YouTube opens inside Reelmute, which is where the Shorts are gone. Shield the YouTube app itself with Screen Time and Reelmute becomes the way you watch YouTube.

Take the feed out today.