Block YouTube Shorts on iPhone

Block YouTube Shorts on iPhone.Without blocking YouTube. Without a VPN. Without a hack.

Dull is an iOS app that runs YouTube in its own browser and strips the Shorts shelf, the Shorts tab in the bottom nav, and Shorts that leak into search — before the page renders. Long-form videos, subscriptions, history, and playlists all still work. 7-day free trial, then $3.99/mo.

Download on the App Store start the 7-day trial. no card upfront.

iOS 16+ $3.99/mo or $14.99/yr on-device only

YouTube on iPhone with Shorts blocked via Dull
YouTube / Shorts blocked

How to block YouTube Shorts on iPhone

01
Get Dull from the App Store Requires iOS 16 or later. 7-day free trial. No accounts to create, no profiles to install.
02
Tap YouTube inside Dull YouTube's mobile site opens in Dull's browser. Sign in with your Google account — Dull doesn't see your password, it's a regular web login.
03
Shorts are blocked by default Shorts shelf, Shorts tab, and Shorts in search results are all removed. If you paste a /shorts/ URL, Dull rewrites it to the regular watch page so it plays as a normal video instead of sucking you into an infinite feed.

FAQ

Can I block YouTube Shorts on iPhone without blocking all of YouTube?
Yes. That's the whole point of Dull. iOS doesn't let third-party apps modify YouTube's official app, so the only way to block Shorts specifically is to load YouTube through a different browser. Dull is that browser — it strips Shorts and leaves long-form video, subscriptions, and search intact.
Can't I just turn off Shorts in YouTube settings?
YouTube lets you tap 'Don't show me Shorts' but it expires after 30 days. You have to renew it manually. Dull removes Shorts every time the page loads. Permanent, no renewal.
What if someone sends me a Shorts link?
Dull rewrites /shorts/ URLs to the regular /watch?v= URL. You watch the video as a normal video player. No autoplay into the next Short.
Does blocking Shorts work in Safari too?
Dull only filters inside its own browser. Safari still shows you Shorts. Most people drop the official YouTube app from their home screen and put Dull in its place so they're not tempted to open the original.
Will Dull break when YouTube changes its layout?
Sometimes a change lands and a filter rule misses for a day or two. We ship updates. The whole filter system is maintained as a living thing — that's part of what you're paying for.
Is there a free way to block YouTube Shorts on iPhone?
There are a few Safari content blockers that claim to hide Shorts, but they only work in Safari, not the YouTube app, and they usually fall over within a week of a YouTube update. Dull has a 7-day free trial — you can test it against your actual use before paying.

Why not just use Screen Time?

Apple Screen Time blocks YouTube entirely — it can't tell the difference between a Short and a 40-minute podcast. YouTube's own 'hide Shorts' button expires monthly. Safari blockers don't run inside the YouTube app. Dull is the only way to block YouTube Shorts on iPhone while keeping the rest of YouTube usable, because it replaces the app with its own controlled browser.

Related

Block YouTube Shorts. Keep YouTube.

7 days free. Cancel anytime during the trial. If Dull doesn't solve it for you, you've lost nothing.

Download on the App Store 7-day free trial · $3.99/mo · $14.99/yr · $59.99 lifetime