YouTube Shorts Blocker

WHAT IT DOES

YouTube Shorts Blocker is a browser extension that automatically scans the current YouTube page for Shorts thumbnails, Shorts video elements, and Shorts shelf containers. It detects Shorts elements by examining links with "/shorts/" in href, class names containing "shorts", and Shorts-specific renderers. The extension adds a floating block button (🚫) next to each detected Shorts element, allowing you to block individual Shorts with a single click. Clicking the button hides or removes the Shorts element from the page, logs the block, and updates the block count. The main panel allows you to customize blocking behavior with multiple modes (Hide, Remove from DOM, or Redirect to regular video), toggle hiding of entire Shorts shelves, block all Shorts on the page at once, and view blocked Shorts history. The extension maintains a blocked Shorts database per video with block history, timestamps, notes, and tags. The main panel displays blocked Shorts history with titles, block dates, and block modes. All data is stored locally in your browser using GM_setValue, ensuring your block preferences persist across page reloads and browser sessions. This helps YouTube users who want to avoid Shorts content, maintain a cleaner feed, or focus on long-form content by blocking or hiding YouTube Shorts from appearing in their feed, recommendations, and search results.

WHERE IT RUNS

This extension runs on any YouTube page that displays Shorts thumbnails, Shorts video elements, or Shorts shelf containers – including YouTube home page, search results, channel pages, and any page with Shorts content. The extension intelligently adapts to different page structures and supports a wide range of common YouTube display patterns. No manual configuration is required per site; the extension automatically detects Shorts elements using a flexible pattern matching system. This makes it ideal for YouTube users who want to block or hide Shorts from their browsing experience.

HOW TO USE

Simply install the extension and navigate to any YouTube page showing Shorts content. The extension automatically detects Shorts elements and places a small block button (🚫) on each one. Click the button to block that specific Short – it will be hidden or removed immediately. A floating button (⛔) appears in the bottom-right corner of the page – click this to open the main panel. The panel shows block settings where you can choose your preferred block mode (Hide, Remove, or Redirect), toggle hiding of entire Shorts shelves, and enable or disable auto-detection. Click "Block All Shorts Now" to hide all Shorts on the current page at once. The "Unblock All Shorts" button restores all hidden Shorts. The blocked Shorts history section shows all videos you've blocked with dates and block modes. Use the settings section to customize your blocking preferences. The "Clear All Blocked Shorts" button removes all tracking data when needed.

ONE TECHNICAL SECTION – WHY IT WORKS

The extension employs a multi-layered detection system that identifies YouTube Shorts content with high accuracy. First, it scans the DOM using a comprehensive set of CSS selectors targeting Shorts links (href containing "/shorts/"), Shorts-specific class names, and Shorts shelf renderers. The video ID extraction uses regex pattern matching to extract the 11-character YouTube video ID from Shorts URLs. The detection algorithm also identifies Shorts shelves and containers using pattern matching on class names and text content. When blocking a Shorts element, the extension supports three modes: hide (sets display:none and visibility:hidden), remove (removes the element from DOM), or redirect (changes the link from /shorts/ to /watch? for redirection). The extension also recursively hides parent shelf elements to fully remove Shorts sections. Each block is logged with video ID, title, timestamp, and block mode. A MutationObserver detects dynamic content updates and re-scans only when new Shorts elements appear, balancing real-time accuracy with system performance.

THE PANEL – DRAG / PER-SITE POSITION / SNAP / COLLAPSE / RESIZE / ESCAPE

The Shorts blocker panel includes a draggable title bar, allowing you to position it anywhere on screen for convenient access during browsing. The extension remembers your preferred position per website, so the panel opens in the same location each time you return to that domain. The panel supports snap-to-edge behavior – when dragged near screen edges, it gently snaps into place for a tidy workspace layout. You can collapse the panel down to just its title bar by clicking the collapse button, keeping it accessible without taking up screen space. The block settings and history are contained within a scrollable body, ensuring all content remains accessible even on smaller screens. Pressing the Escape key closes the panel instantly, returning you to your YouTube browsing workflow.

PLEASE NOTE

This extension requires the free BotGentz extension to be installed and enabled, as it relies on BotGentz's userscript injection and GM_* API shims for cross-browser compatibility. Websites frequently update their HTML structures and class names, which may cause Shorts detection to break temporarily – we actively maintain the matching patterns and release updates regularly. The extension stores all block data, notes, and history exclusively in your local browser storage (GM_setValue); no data is ever transmitted to any external server or third party. The extension does not read, modify, or interfere with any YouTube content, videos, or functionality beyond the Shorts display – it operates on the page content and stores only metadata (video IDs, titles, block modes, and notes) that you explicitly create. You are responsible for backing up your block history data if you switch browsers or clear your storage. Use this tool responsibly and in accordance with YouTube's Terms of Service.