YouTube Adds Search Filter Allowing Users to Hide Shorts

YouTube has begun rolling out a long-awaited update that gives users greater control over how they search for content, introducing a new filter that allows Shorts to be excluded from search results. The change is designed to make it easier for viewers to find traditional long-form videos without short vertical clips dominating the page.

Since the launch of Shorts, YouTube has heavily promoted the format across its platform, including within search. While this push has helped YouTube compete more effectively with TikTok and Instagram Reels, it has also drawn criticism from users looking for full-length tutorials, reviews, interviews and documentaries. In many cases, a single search query could surface dozens of Shorts, pushing longer, more detailed videos far down the results list. The new filter is intended to address that frustration.

With the update, users can decide whether they want to see Shorts or standard videos after entering a search term. By selecting the relevant filter, Shorts can be removed entirely, allowing search results to focus on longer-form content. The feature is being introduced gradually across supported platforms, including mobile and desktop, meaning it may not be immediately available to all users.

YouTube has also refined the way its search filters are displayed. Some older options have been renamed or removed as part of a wider effort to simplify the search experience. The company says the aim is to help users quickly prioritise the type of content they are looking for, rather than forcing them to scroll past formats they have little interest in.

The update reflects growing feedback from both viewers and creators. For audiences, Shorts-heavy search results often reduced YouTube’s usefulness as a learning and research tool. For creators focused on long-form video, competing with short clips in search results affected visibility and discoverability. By separating Shorts from traditional videos, YouTube appears to be seeking a better balance between entertainment and practical utility.

The move does not signal any retreat from Shorts. Short-form video remains a major growth driver for YouTube, particularly on mobile devices. Instead, the new filter acknowledges that different search intentions call for different formats. Someone casually browsing for entertainment may favour Shorts, while someone searching for advice or instructions is more likely to want a detailed, long-form explanation.

The change also points to a broader shift across digital platforms. As services increasingly blend social media, video and search into a single experience, users are demanding more control. Rather than relying solely on algorithms to dictate what people see, platforms are beginning to offer tools that allow users to tailor how content is presented.

For creators, the update could subtly influence content strategy. Long-form creators may benefit from improved visibility in search, while Shorts creators may become more reliant on feeds and recommendations rather than search traffic. Over time, clearer separation between formats could help each perform more effectively within its intended context.

Overall, YouTube’s decision to let users filter Shorts out of search results is a modest but meaningful quality-of-life improvement. It reinforces the platform’s position not only as a social video network, but also as a powerful search and discovery tool for in-depth content.