Tapping the X on YouTube's Shorts shelf hides it for about 30 days, according to news reports, and to keep both the Shorts shelf and the Shorts tab hidden until you change the setting, minulo, an iPhone app, hides them for free.
I'm Ayumu Kitabayashi, the developer of minulo, so please read the minulo parts with that in mind. Facts about YouTube come from YouTube Help (checked October 26, 2026). YouTube Help doesn't describe the X on the shelf at all, so for that part I name the article that says each thing.
The short answer
- The X on the shelf: about 30 days. SlashGear and GeekChamp quote YouTube's message as "Shelf will be hidden for 30 days". After that, the shelf comes back and you tap the X again.
- Show fewer Shorts and Not interested: YouTube's help gives no period for either. It describes them as feedback that tunes your recommendations.
- What the X doesn't touch: Shorts stay in the Shorts tab, search results, Subscriptions, channel pages and notifications. GeekChamp adds that Shorts still open from links people send you.
Why you might not see the X
The X isn't on every screen. SlashGear (2023) found it on the mobile website and the desktop site. tbreak (April 2026) found it on the mobile website only, and both say it isn't in the app. GeekChamp (May 2026) says it does appear in the app for some accounts, depending on account, region and app version. I couldn't confirm any of this in YouTube Help, so check your own Home screen.
Hide the shelf with the X
- Open YouTube and go to Home.
- Scroll to the Shorts shelf.
- If there is an X at the top right of the shelf, tap it. According to the reports, a message says the shelf will be hidden for 30 days.
- No X? Tap More at the top of the Shorts grid and choose Show fewer Shorts.
To undo Show fewer Shorts, go to My Activity, select Other activity, and under Show fewer Shorts select Delete.
Keep the shelf hidden in minulo
- Install minulo, tap Add a service on the home screen and choose YouTube.
- Tap the gear next to YouTube and turn on Hide the Shorts shelf, Hide the Shorts tab and Send Shorts links to the normal player.
- Watch normal videos, search, Subscriptions and Watch later from the minulo home screen as usual.
- Optional: in the Block tab, lock the official YouTube app with Screen Time, free for up to 2 hours per block. Tapping its icon shows a block screen, and Open in minulo takes you to YouTube without Shorts.
Hiding is a setting, so unlike the X it doesn't come back after 30 days.
Comparison
| Method | What it hides | How long | Where Shorts stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| X on the Shorts shelf | The shelf on Home | About 30 days (reported, not in YouTube Help) | Shorts tab, search, Subscriptions, channel pages, notifications |
| Show fewer Shorts | Feedback: fewer Shorts on Home | No period given. Undo in My Activity | Everywhere, Home included |
| Shorts feed limit set to 0 | A limit screen in the Shorts feed | Adults can dismiss it | YouTube's help covers the Shorts feed only |
| minulo | Shorts shelf and Shorts tab; Shorts links open in the normal player | Until you change the setting | Hidden only inside minulo. The official app doesn't change |
A common case
A common case: you tap the X before a study session, the shelf disappears, and a month later it is back on Home. Or the shelf is gone, but the Shorts tab is still at the bottom of the screen and one tap opens the feed. Those are the two gaps the X leaves, and they are what the two minulo switches cover.
Honest limits
- minulo can't change the official YouTube app. Shorts are hidden only when you open YouTube inside minulo.
- While minulo blocks an official app, that app's notifications don't arrive, and minulo sends none of its own.
- minulo runs on iPhone and Mac, not Android, and there is no iPad version. It is new, with few ratings.
- Hiding and blocks of up to 2 hours are free. minulo Pro ($9.99 a month or $39.99 a year on the US App Store, with the first 7 days free) adds Sleep mode (one bedtime and wake time that apply every day), Hard Mode, a Daily limit and blocks longer than 2 hours.
More detail, with sources, is in the Shorts shelf guide, what's free and what Pro adds and what minulo can't do.
FAQ
Is the 30 days official?
Not as far as I can find. SlashGear and GeekChamp quote the message YouTube shows, but YouTube's help doesn't mention the X or a period, so treat 30 days as reported.
Does the Shorts feed limit remove the Shorts shelf?
YouTube's help describes it as a limit for the Shorts feed: at 0 minutes a limit screen appears, and adults can dismiss it. It doesn't say the shelf on Home goes away.
Can I hide the Shorts shelf for good?
I found no permanent switch in YouTube's help. minulo hides the shelf and the Shorts tab for free and keeps them hidden until you change the setting, though only inside minulo.
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