Are you tired of endless Shorts distracting you from regular YouTube content on your iOS device? You're not alone! Many users find the constant stream of short-form videos disruptive and prefer a more focused viewing experience. Fortunately, there are several ways to enjoy YouTube on your iPhone or iPad without being bombarded by Shorts. This article explores the best iOS YouTube clients and methods to block Shorts, ensuring you can watch your favorite creators in peace.

Why Block YouTube Shorts?

Before diving into solutions, let's understand why so many users want to block YouTube Shorts. While Shorts can be entertaining, they often lead to:

• Distraction: The endless scroll can pull you away from longer, more engaging content.
• Time Waste: It's easy to lose track of time while watching Shorts, leading to unproductive browsing sessions.
• Algorithm Disruption: The YouTube algorithm might start recommending more Shorts than regular videos, affecting your overall viewing experience.
• Content Overload: The constant barrage of short videos can be overwhelming and reduce the enjoyment of longer, more thoughtful content.
• Focus Issues: For some, the rapid-fire nature of Shorts can negatively impact their attention span and ability to focus on longer videos.

For users who primarily use YouTube for learning, entertainment through longer formats, or background noise, Shorts can be an unwelcome intrusion. Thus, finding ways to block or bypass them becomes essential for a cleaner, more focused YouTube experience. Many of us prefer the traditional YouTube experience, focusing on longer-form content and in-depth videos. If you're nodding along, this guide is for you! We'll explore several methods to achieve a Shorts-free YouTube on your iOS device, ensuring you can enjoy your favorite content without the distraction of these short-form videos. Let's be real, sometimes you just want to watch a proper video without getting sucked into a never-ending scroll of Shorts. This article will show you how to reclaim your YouTube experience on iOS. Whether you're looking for alternative clients or clever workarounds, we've got you covered. Get ready to say goodbye to endless scrolling and hello to focused viewing!

Alternative iOS YouTube Clients

One of the most effective ways to block YouTube Shorts is by using alternative iOS YouTube clients. These apps often offer customization options that allow you to filter out Shorts and other unwanted content. Here are a few popular options:

1. uYouPlus

uYouPlus is a modified YouTube app for iOS that offers a plethora of features, including the ability to block Shorts. It's a favorite among those who want a customized YouTube experience without jailbreaking their device. This powerful client lets you fine-tune your viewing experience, giving you complete control over what you see. uYouPlus isn't available on the App Store, so you'll need to sideload it using tools like AltStore or Sideloadly. The installation process might seem a bit technical, but it's worth it for the level of customization you get. Once installed, you can easily block Shorts, disable ads, enable background playback, and much more. The app essentially gives you a premium YouTube experience without the subscription fee. Plus, you can customize the app's appearance with different themes, making it truly your own. uYouPlus also lets you download videos for offline viewing, which is a huge bonus for those who want to watch content on the go without using data. Overall, uYouPlus is a fantastic option for anyone looking to enhance their YouTube experience on iOS and ditch those pesky Shorts for good. Just remember to keep the app updated to ensure it continues to work properly and has the latest features.

2. Cercube

Cercube is another popular tweaked YouTube app that allows you to block Shorts, download videos, and enjoy background playback. It also offers ad-blocking features for an uninterrupted viewing experience. Cercube is known for its user-friendly interface and ease of use. Like uYouPlus, Cercube isn't available on the App Store and requires sideloading. However, the installation process is straightforward, and there are plenty of tutorials available online to guide you through it. Once installed, you can easily block Shorts, download videos in various resolutions, and listen to audio in the background while using other apps. One of the standout features of Cercube is its ability to play videos in picture-in-picture mode, allowing you to watch YouTube while multitasking. The app also supports downloading videos directly to your device's camera roll, making it easy to share them with friends and family. Cercube is a great alternative to the official YouTube app, offering a cleaner, more customizable, and ad-free experience. If you're looking for a reliable and feature-rich YouTube client for your iOS device, Cercube is definitely worth checking out. Plus, getting rid of those Shorts is a major win!

3. Vinegar - Tube Cleaner

Vinegar is a Safari extension that replaces YouTube's embedded player with a minimal HTML5 player. This effectively blocks Shorts and other unwanted elements. Vinegar is a unique solution because it works directly within Safari, eliminating the need for a separate app. Instead of relying on a dedicated YouTube client, Vinegar enhances your browsing experience by cleaning up the YouTube website. Once installed, Vinegar automatically replaces the YouTube player with a streamlined HTML5 player, which effectively blocks Shorts and other distractions like suggested videos and comments. This results in a cleaner, more focused viewing experience. Vinegar is incredibly easy to use – simply install the extension from the App Store and enable it in Safari settings. There are no complicated configurations or settings to adjust. It just works! Vinegar is an excellent option for those who prefer to use YouTube in Safari and want a simple, lightweight solution for blocking Shorts. It's also a great way to reduce data usage, as the HTML5 player is more efficient than the standard YouTube player. If you're looking for a no-fuss way to enjoy YouTube without the clutter, Vinegar is the perfect choice. Say goodbye to Shorts and hello to a cleaner, faster YouTube experience in Safari!

Other Methods to Avoid Shorts

If you prefer to stick with the official YouTube app, here are some alternative methods to minimize your exposure to Shorts:

1. Use YouTube in a Web Browser with Ad Blockers

Accessing YouTube through a web browser like Safari or Chrome and using ad blockers can help reduce the visibility of Shorts. Many ad blockers allow you to create custom filters to block specific elements on a webpage, including the Shorts feed. Using YouTube in a web browser offers more control over your viewing experience compared to the app. Ad blockers can not only block ads but also filter out unwanted content like Shorts. Popular ad blockers like AdGuard and AdBlock offer custom filtering options that allow you to block specific elements on a webpage. To block Shorts, you can create a custom filter that targets the Shorts feed or specific Shorts elements on the YouTube website. This requires a bit of technical knowledge, but there are plenty of tutorials available online to guide you through the process. Using a web browser also allows you to use extensions that enhance your YouTube experience, such as those that block annotations or automatically skip intros. However, using YouTube in a web browser on mobile can be less convenient than using the app. The website isn't as optimized for mobile devices, and you may miss out on some features like background playback. Nevertheless, if you want to minimize your exposure to Shorts and have more control over your viewing experience, using YouTube in a web browser with an ad blocker is a viable option. Plus, it's a great way to avoid those annoying ads! It's like having a personal YouTube cleaner right in your browser.

2. Train Your YouTube Algorithm

Actively disliking Shorts and selecting "Not Interested" can help train the YouTube algorithm to show you fewer Shorts over time. This method requires patience and consistency, but it can be effective in the long run. The YouTube algorithm learns from your viewing habits and preferences. By consistently disliking Shorts and selecting "Not Interested," you can signal to the algorithm that you don't want to see them. This will gradually reduce the number of Shorts that appear in your feed and recommendations. This method isn't foolproof, and Shorts may still pop up from time to time, but it can significantly improve your overall viewing experience. It's like teaching your YouTube algorithm what you like and don't like. The more consistent you are, the better the algorithm will understand your preferences. Over time, you should see a noticeable decrease in the number of Shorts that appear in your feed. This method also helps improve the quality of your recommendations in general. By actively engaging with the content you enjoy and dismissing the content you don't, you can help the algorithm curate a more personalized and relevant viewing experience. So, start disliking those Shorts and take control of your YouTube feed!

3. Use Third-Party Apps for Content Control

Some third-party apps allow you to create custom playlists and block specific channels or types of content, including Shorts. These apps often provide a more granular level of control over your YouTube experience. These apps act as intermediaries between you and YouTube, allowing you to filter out unwanted content and curate a more personalized viewing experience. Some of these apps offer features like custom playlists, channel blocking, and content filtering based on keywords or categories. This can be particularly useful for blocking Shorts or other types of content that you don't want to see. However, using third-party apps may require you to log in with your YouTube account, which could raise privacy concerns. It's important to choose reputable apps and review their privacy policies before using them. These apps offer a powerful way to customize your YouTube experience and block out distractions like Shorts. If you're looking for a more granular level of control over your content, these apps are definitely worth exploring. Just be sure to do your research and choose an app that you trust.

Conclusion

Blocking YouTube Shorts on iOS is achievable through various methods, from using alternative clients like uYouPlus and Cercube to employing Safari extensions like Vinegar or training the YouTube algorithm. Choose the method that best suits your needs and enjoy a Shorts-free YouTube experience on your iPhone or iPad. Whether you opt for a tweaked app, a browser extension, or a combination of methods, the goal is the same: to reclaim your YouTube experience and focus on the content you truly enjoy. So, go ahead and say goodbye to those endless Shorts and hello to a more focused and enjoyable YouTube experience on your iOS device!