Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
YouTube added a Shorts choice to the search-results Type filter on January 8, 2026. Choose Videos when you want long-form results or Shorts when you want vertical clips. This is a search-results control—not a switch that removes Shorts from Home, subscriptions, recommendations, or the Shorts feed—and YouTube has not published a current availability matrix for every account, device, app version, or region.
What YouTube changed
The official YouTube Help Community announcement says the Type menu now includes a Shorts filter so viewers can control whether search results show Shorts or VODs (YouTube’s term for long-form video). Contemporary interface reporting observed separate Videos and Shorts choices: Videos returned long-form results in that observation, while Shorts returned Shorts. Results can vary by query and by the version of YouTube you are using.
Hank from TeamYouTube, identified as a Google employee and the post’s original poster, said the company was “enhancing the search experience by updating our filters to make them more effective and intuitive for everyone.” The same announcement states, “We’ve added a new Shorts filter to the ‘Type’ menu.”
How to filter Shorts out of a search
On YouTube.com
- Run your search.
- Select Filters on the results page.
- In Type, choose Videos for the reported long-form-results option. Choose Shorts to focus on Shorts instead.
In the mobile app
- Search for your topic.
- Tap the three-dot overflow menu on the results screen, then open the filters.
- Use Type and select Videos or Shorts.
The mobile route above is the path reported at launch. YouTube can move controls in later app updates, so the labels or placement may differ. The January 8 reporting also said the update had not yet appeared for its testers on YouTube.com or the apps; that was a launch-day observation, not proof that the feature is unavailable now or universally enabled.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors#1 Best Overall
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
What each updated filter means
| Filter or label | What it is for | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Type: Videos | Finding long-form video results instead of Shorts, based on the launch-era observation. | Exact behavior can differ by query, account, app version, device, or region. |
| Type: Shorts | Restricting the search view to Shorts. | This controls search results only. |
| Prioritize | The renamed version of Sort By. | The announcement does not define every prioritization choice in detail. |
| Popularity | The renamed version of View count. | YouTube says it uses view count plus query-relevance signals, including watch time; it is not a simple global view-count sort. |
| Upload Date | Finding newer uploads. | Other date choices remain available, but Last Hour was removed. |
Filters YouTube removed
- Upload Date – Last Hour
- Sort by Rating
YouTube said those options were not working as expected and had contributed to complaints. For recent material, it pointed users to the remaining Upload Date choices. For popular or query-relevant material, it directed users to Popularity.
What this does—and does not—solve
When you are trying to avoid Shorts
Apply Type > Videos after each relevant search. It is a practical way to narrow that results page when the option is present.
Rank #2
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
When Shorts still appear
- Confirm that you selected Videos, rather than leaving Type unfiltered.
- Try the same search on YouTube.com and in the updated mobile app; the controls may not be enabled identically.
- Check for an app update and reopen the search filters.
- Remember that YouTube has not documented universal present-day coverage across regions, accounts, devices, and app versions.
What the filter cannot change
The announcement concerns search-result filters. It does not establish a setting to remove Shorts from the Home page, Subscriptions, recommendations, or the dedicated Shorts feed. It also is not a permanent account-wide “Shorts off” switch; you use it on searches where you want a format preference.
Choosing the right search control
- Need documentaries, interviews, lectures, or other long-form material: use Type > Videos.
- Want short clips: use Type > Shorts.
- Need the newest uploads: use the available Upload Date choices.
- Want prominent results for this particular query: use Popularity, remembering that YouTube says relevance and watch time supplement view count.
Availability and rollout caveat
The feature was announced on January 8, 2026. The contemporaneous 9to5Google report had not seen it on YouTube.com or the apps at publication, while reporting from that period described the intended web and mobile paths. No official, up-to-date availability table covering every geography, account type, device, and software version has been established. If the Type menu lacks Shorts on your account, that absence does not by itself show that the feature has been withdrawn; it may reflect staged rollout or interface differences.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Ask to control your TV with your voice, and quickly cast your photos, videos, music and more from your phone, tablet, or PC to your TV with Chromecast built in
- Built-in Virtual Assistant – just press the mic button on the remote to get what you want
- Built-in content and entertainment including YouTube, Play Movies & TV, and more
- Support for thousands of Apps on the Play Store
- 2K resolution TV streaming
Bottom line
YouTube’s new Shorts entry gives searchers a format choice: select Videos for the reported long-form view or Shorts for short-form results. The update also renames Sort By to Prioritize and View count to Popularity, removes Last Hour and Sort by Rating, and leaves other Upload Date choices in place. Treat it as a per-search filter whose current availability may vary—not as a platform-wide way to disable Shorts.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Expand your home entertainment without buying a new TV; Google Chromecast lets you stream your favorites from your phone, tablet, or laptop; no remote needed
- Chromecast is easy to set up up; just plug it in, connect to Wi-Fi, and start streaming to turn your TV into a smart TV; it works with almost any TV that has an HDMI port
- Works with the apps you already know and love; enjoy shows, movies, music, games, sports, photos, live TV, and more from over 2,000 streaming apps in up to 1080p
- With Chromecast, you can stream, pause, play, or adjust the volume right from your phone with just a tap; while you’re streaming, you can still use your phone as you normally do
- Mirror your laptop screen or turn your tablet into an even better entertainment system; surf the web or see your media on the big screen
Rank #4
- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
