YouTube finally gives you a way to pause Shorts, here’s how to turn it off

YouTube has quietly introduced a new setting that finally gives users a way to step back from Shorts, the platform’s endlessly scrolling short video feed.

At first glance, it feels like a long-overdue feature, especially for those tired of doomscrolling. But look closer, and it becomes clear that this is less about removing Shorts entirely and more about helping users manage how much time they spend on them.

The update builds on an existing “Shorts feed limit” tool, which previously allowed users to cap their viewing time to a minimum of 15 minutes. Now, that limit can be set to zero, effectively stopping Shorts from appearing in the app. Once enabled, the Shorts tab no longer shows videos, and users are greeted with a prompt saying they have reached their limit.

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It is a subtle shift, but one that signals YouTube’s growing focus on digital wellbeing rather than outright feature removal.

But, here is a catch

Before we go on to the how part, let’s dig a little deeper. We tried to pause the Shorts feature and found two key things.

First, this is essentially an extension of time limit tools that already exist on most smartphones. Just like you can set a daily usage cap for apps, this feature allows you to define how long you want to spend watching Shorts. In that sense, it is not a complete shutdown, but a behavioural nudge.

Notably, YouTube already offers similar features such as reminders to take a break or prompts about bedtime. However, the Shorts setting feels more targeted. It directly addresses one of the most addictive parts of the platform by giving users a way to limit, or nearly eliminate, endless scrolling.

Second, it is not a strict block for everyone. When you tap on Shorts after hitting the limit, a prompt appears informing you that your time is up. Just below this message is an option to “Ignore for today”. With a single tap, you can dismiss the restriction and continue watching.

This means that for most users, the feature works more as a gentle reminder rather than a hard stop.

However, there is one exception. For teen accounts managed through Google Family Link, the limit cannot be bypassed. If parents set the Shorts timer to zero, it effectively disables access to Shorts altogether.

How to turn off YouTube Shorts on app?

If you want to try the feature for yourself, here’s how you can enable it:

Once activated, you will see a notification whenever you try to access Shorts, indicating that you have reached your limit.

While it may not completely eliminate the temptation, the feature does offer a practical way to take back some control over your viewing habits.