YouTube without Shorts
If you want YouTube results without falling into Shorts, the simplest approach is: skip the homepage and start with a
search-only entry point. This page does exactly that, and can optionally add -shorts to your query to reduce Shorts in results.
Search YouTube (search-only)
Tip: you can also add keywords like -short, -shorts, or include terms like full, full video, documentary depending on your intent.
Why Shorts keep showing up
Shorts are a major product area and YouTube promotes them across the interface. Even when you intend to find a specific long video, the homepage and suggested modules can pull attention away before you even search.
The practical fix
Start from search, not the feed. SVS opens YouTube’s results page directly. If you enable “Exclude Shorts”, it appends -shorts
to reduce Shorts-related matches in search results.
When this works best
This approach is strongest when your query describes long-form content (topics, names, “interview”, “documentary”, “tutorial”, “full”). It is not a guarantee, but it reliably reduces accidental Shorts browsing.
How to search YouTube without Shorts (simple checklist)
- Use a search-first entry point (this page) instead of opening the YouTube homepage.
- Enable “Exclude Shorts” to add
-shortsto your query automatically. - Prefer long-form intent keywords:
tutorial,full,documentary,interview. - If you want only long videos, use SVS YouTube filters on the homepage: duration and date filters.
Note: SVS does not remove ads or modify YouTube results. It only helps you start from search and reach results faster.
Why YouTube Shorts keep showing up
Shorts are not just “short videos” — they are a dedicated format with its own viewing surface and recommendation loops. YouTube promotes Shorts aggressively because they drive frequent sessions and fast engagement. That’s great when you want quick entertainment, but it can be frustrating when your intent is learning, research, or long-form viewing.
The main issue is entry point. If you open the YouTube homepage, you’re entering a feed designed to keep you scrolling. A search-first workflow flips the order: you start with intent, go to results, and choose what to watch.
- Homepage: optimized for discovery and retention (easy to get pulled into Shorts).
- Search results: closer to your intent (still mixed, but easier to control).
What “-shorts” actually does (and what it does not)
Adding -shorts is a practical keyword exclusion technique. It tells YouTube’s search system to avoid results that strongly match
the term “shorts”. This can reduce the number of Shorts-related matches, especially when creators include “#shorts” in titles or descriptions.
Important limitations:
- It is not a platform-level switch. YouTube still decides what to show.
- Some Shorts may still appear if they match your query strongly without using “shorts” text.
- It may hide a few relevant results if “shorts” is part of the topic (rare, but possible).
Best practice: use -shorts as a “noise reducer”, not as a guarantee.
Search-only workflow (recommended)
If your goal is to watch long-form content, the most reliable improvement is to avoid the homepage entirely. Use a search-only entry point and keep your flow simple:
- Type intent: topic + format (tutorial / interview / documentary / lecture).
- Exclude noise: enable
-shortsif you keep seeing Shorts. - Filter long-form: if you want only long videos, combine with duration filters.
SVS doesn’t modify YouTube. It just gets you to results faster and helps keep the workflow intentional.
Advanced query patterns (copy/paste examples)
Use these patterns when Shorts keep hijacking your results:
topic tutorial -shorts(learning intent)topic full documentary -shorts(long-form intent)topic interview -shorts(conversation intent)topic lecture -shorts(structured teaching)topic "full course" -shorts(high commitment)
If you want only long videos, combine this with the duration workflow described here: Search YouTube by Duration.
Search-only vs other “anti-distraction” methods
Incognito mode
Incognito can reduce personalization, but it does not remove the homepage feed design. You can still get pulled into Shorts before you search.
Subscriptions tab
Subscriptions helps if you only watch creators you already follow. It’s less useful when you are researching a new topic and need search results.
Direct channel browsing
Great if you already know the channel. Not great when you need discovery by query. Search-first is still the fastest general workflow.
What this page is (and is not)
- This is: a search-first entry point that helps reduce Shorts exposure.
- This is not: an ad blocker, a bypass tool, or a modification of YouTube.
- This does not: remove YouTube ads, change rankings, or access restricted content.
YouTube controls the platform interface and results. SVS helps you start from search and stay focused.
FAQ
Does this remove Shorts completely?
No. YouTube controls results and interface. This page reduces Shorts exposure by skipping the homepage and (optionally)
adding -shorts to your query.
Why do Shorts still appear sometimes?
Some Shorts don’t include “shorts” text in the title/description, or they match your query strongly.
-shorts is a helpful reducer, not a guarantee.
Does “-shorts” remove all short videos?
Not exactly. It targets results related to the Shorts format (often tagged with “shorts”). Short videos can still appear. If your goal is long-form only, use the duration workflow: Search YouTube by Duration.
Can I combine this with duration and upload date filters?
Yes. A practical workflow is: search-first → apply Duration (Long) → apply Upload date when recency matters. SVS supports these filters on the homepage: Back to search.
Is this affiliated with YouTube or Google?
No. Simple Video Search is an independent project and is not affiliated with YouTube or Google.
Do you store my searches?
No server-side storage is required for SVS. Your query is used to build a YouTube search URL and you are redirected to YouTube.
Can I use this on mobile?
Yes. It works in any browser. For a focused flow, add this page to your home screen and use it as your YouTube entry point.
Is this an ad blocker or a bypass tool?
No. SVS does not remove ads or modify YouTube. It only helps you start from search and reach results faster.