Key Highlights:

• YouTube now allows users to set their Shorts feed limit to zero minutes.
• The feature works through Time Management settings on mobile devices.
• Earlier, the lowest limit available was 15 minutes. The update expands digital well-being controls beyond parental supervision.

YouTube has introduced a new setting that allows users to hide Shorts from their feed by setting a zero-minute daily limit. The update expands its existing time management tools and gives users more control over short-form video consumption.

Previously, the minimum Shorts viewing limit available inside the app was 15 minutes. Now, users can effectively stop Shorts from appearing in their scrolling experience on mobile devices.

The feature appears inside the Time Management section of the YouTube app and is rolling out to general users.

Where can you find the new YouTube Shorts control?

YouTube users can access the new option through the mobile app settings. Inside the Time Management section, a Daily Limits menu now includes the Shorts feed limit control.

Selecting zero minutes pauses the scrolling. However, YouTube notes that individual Shorts may still appear occasionally in other parts of the platform. Users may also need to refresh the app before the change takes effect fully.

This update builds on the platform’s earlier digital wellbeing tools that aimed to reduce screen time.

Why did YouTube expand Shorts time limits?

YouTube first introduced Shorts viewing limits in October last year. At that time, the lowest available option was 15 minutes. After reaching the limit, users received reminders encouraging them to stop scrolling.

Earlier this year, the company extended the same controls to parental supervision features. Guardians could set restrictions on Shorts usage for younger viewers. During that rollout, YouTube indicated that a zero-minute option would soon become available.

Now, the setting is live for all users, not just families managing child accounts.

Does the feature completely remove Shorts from your feed?

The zero-minute limit significantly reduces exposure to Shorts but does not fully eliminate them from the platform. According to the in-app notice, users may still see individual short videos in certain sections.

However, the main Shorts scrolling experience becomes unavailable once the limit is activated. That makes the feature useful for users trying to reduce short-form content consumption.

The update reflects a broader shift toward optional screen-time boundaries inside major apps.

What does this change mean for short-form video usage?

Short-form video has become central to how users interact with social platforms. At the same time, concerns around excessive scrolling continue to grow.

By expanding time controls, YouTube adds another layer of customization to its viewing experience. Users now have more flexibility to decide how much short-form content appears in their daily activity.

The zero-minute option signals a new direction in how platforms may balance engagement tools with digital well-being features on YouTube.