YouTube finally lets you filter out Shorts from your search results 🔍

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YouTube just announced a search filter update that’s going to make a lot of users very happy. If you’ve ever been frustrated by landing on Shorts when you were looking for a detailed, long-form video, you’re in luck. The platform is finally introducing a clear way to separate these two formats in your searches, while also cleaning house on some options that have become irrelevant over the years.

A filter that was sorely missing 🎯

The main addition here is an « Exclude Shorts » option in the search filters. In practical terms, when you search for something on YouTube, you’ll now be able to check this box to see only traditional videos in your results. No more scrolling through dozens of 60-second vertical thumbnails when you’re looking for an in-depth 20-minute tutorial or a full documentary.

This feature addresses a recurring request from the community. Since launching Shorts in 2020, YouTube has aggressively pushed the format to compete with TikTok and Instagram Reels. The problem? Shorts ended up mixed in with traditional videos in search results, creating a frustrating experience for anyone looking for long-form content.

Streamlining the filter options 🧹

Alongside this addition, YouTube is taking the opportunity to declutter its filters. Several options that no longer make much sense in 2025 are disappearing from the interface. The « Features » filters that let you sort by « 4K, » « HD, » « Subtitles, » « Creative Commons, » « 360°, » « VR180, » « 3D, » « HDR, » and « Location » are all being removed.

Why the cleanup? According to YouTube, these criteria have either become too niche for most users or simply obsolete. For instance, filtering by « 4K » or « HD » matters less today when virtually all recent content is in high definition. Similarly, 3D and 360° formats never really took off with mainstream audiences.

An interface redesigned for 2025 🎨

This filter overhaul is part of a broader simplification effort. YouTube wants to make search more intuitive by focusing on the criteria that actually matter to most users: content type (long-form video vs. Short), upload date, and relevance.

The remaining filters still include video duration (under 4 minutes, 4-20 minutes, over 20 minutes), upload date, content type (video, channel, playlist, movie), and sorting options (relevance, upload date, view count, rating).

Availability and rollout 📱

The update has already started rolling out and should reach all users within the coming weeks. The feature will be available across all platforms: mobile apps (iOS and Android), desktop, and even smart TVs.

If you don’t see the « Exclude Shorts » option in your filters yet, don’t worry. YouTube typically rolls out updates gradually, so you might need to wait a few days or weeks before you get access.

When YouTube finally learns to listen 👂

This update might seem minor, but it reflects an important shift in YouTube’s strategy. After years of aggressively pushing Shorts, the platform is finally acknowledging that not all users are looking for the same type of content. By giving people more control over search results, YouTube is improving the user experience while still promoting its various content formats.

It’s a good example of how a mature platform needs to listen to its community and adjust features accordingly. The question now is whether other improvements will follow to further refine search on the platform.

Will you use this new filter to exclude Shorts from your searches? Or have you actually become a fan of the short-form format? Share your experience in the comments!