Late last year, YouTube introduced a timer tool for Shorts, giving users the ability to temporarily hide short-form videos in the app for periods up to 15 minutes. Since that initial rollout, YouTube has continued improving parental control options and indicated a “zero minute” setting was coming — a way to effectively remove Shorts from view entirely.
According to a recent report from The Verge, that “zero minute” option is now available to all users, including parents managing supervised accounts. When enabled, the setting hides Shorts from the YouTube mobile app indefinitely, at least while the preference remains active. This change gives people a straightforward method to opt out of the Shorts feed without having to rely on workarounds or third-party tools.
To enable the feature, open the YouTube app and go to the Time management section of Settings. From there, choose Shorts feed limit and select your preferred duration — now including a zero-minute option. Selecting zero minutes prevents the Shorts carousel and vertically formatted short videos from appearing in the Shorts tab, which can help reduce distractions and limit short-form consumption on the platform.
For parents and caregivers, the addition of zero minutes is particularly useful. YouTube has expanded its suite of parental controls in recent years, and this option gives guardians more precise control over the kind of content younger viewers see. It complements other tools such as supervised experiences, restricted mode, and time limits, forming a more complete set of controls for families who want to manage screen time and content exposure.
It’s worth noting that this is currently the primary way to “turn off” the Shorts feed in the official YouTube mobile app. YouTube’s emphasis on short-form content has grown over the past several years, with the platform promoting Shorts across its interface. The new zero-minute setting offers a counterbalance for users who prefer the traditional, longer-form viewing experience or who want to reduce interruptions caused by rapid, scrollable video formats.
Given the persistent popularity of short-form video, the availability of a permanent hide option is an important preference for many. Some users find Shorts addictive or distracting, especially when trying to focus on longer videos or educational content. Others appreciate the discovery and quick entertainment Shorts provide. By offering a zero-minute limit, YouTube acknowledges the diverse needs of its audience and gives users a clear, built-in choice about how they want their app organized.
Alongside changes to Shorts controls, Google has been active with promotional offers tied to its media services. Recently, the company announced a discounted rate for YouTube Premium for a subset of Google One members, temporarily lowering the monthly cost for eligible subscribers for a year. That promotion reduced the effective price of Premium for those subscribers during the promotional period, making ad-free viewing, background playback, and offline downloads more accessible to some users.
Whether you’re a parent seeking more control, a viewer who prefers longer videos, or someone simply trying to cut down on quick-hit content, the Shorts feed limit — including the new zero-minute option — provides a direct solution. If you want to change the setting, open YouTube, navigate to Time management, find Shorts feed limit, and choose the duration that best fits your viewing habits. With this adjustment, YouTube users can tailor their experience more precisely and reduce the prominence of short-form clips on their home screens.