NAIROBI, Kenya – YouTube has begun rolling out a long-awaited update that allows users to exclude Shorts from search results, marking a rare pullback from the platform’s aggressive push into short-form video.
The new feature, now available globally, lets users filter search results to display only traditional, long-form videos — effectively removing vertical Shorts clips from view when searching.
While the change may appear minor, it represents a significant shift in how YouTube balances short-form virality with long-form content depth.
Since the introduction of Shorts, YouTube search results have increasingly been dominated by brief, under-a-minute videos, even when users were clearly looking for full-length tutorials, reviews, interviews or documentaries.
The update restores intent to search, allowing users to decide whether they want quick clips or in-depth videos, instead of leaving that choice to the algorithm.
How the new YouTube search filter works
When conducting a search on YouTube, users can now open the Filters menu and select an option to view only standard videos.
Once applied, Shorts are hidden from search results, though they remain accessible through YouTube’s dedicated Shorts feed.
In addition to the Shorts filter, YouTube has quietly refined other parts of its search interface:
- The “Sort by” option has been renamed “Prioritise,” making it clearer how results are ranked.
- “View count” is now labelled “Popularity,” signalling that engagement signals beyond raw views are influencing rankings.
Together, the updates create a cleaner, more focused search experience that prioritises relevance over video format.
What it means for viewers and creators
Short-form video has been hugely successful for YouTube, helping the platform compete with TikTok and Instagram Reels. However, that success came with trade-offs.
As Shorts multiplied, many long-form creators complained their content was being buried in search results, while viewers struggled to find detailed videos without scrolling past dozens of clips.
For creators, the change could subtly reshape discoverability. Shorts creators may see reduced exposure through search, while long-form content — including tutorials, podcasts, explainers and reviews — could regain visibility when users actively filter out Shorts.
Ultimately, the move signals a recalibration rather than a retreat. YouTube is not abandoning Shorts, but it is acknowledging that different formats serve different user needs — and that search should respect that distinction.
