Block Shorts while studying on YouTube
Turn on focus mode when you sit down, or let a schedule do it for you.
To block Shorts while you study, start with the free tools: hide Shorts from feeds and open Shorts links in the normal player. Both are free on Chrome, iPhone and Mac. For more control, add UnLoop's focus mode, which keeps blocking on until you turn it off, and schedules that switch blocking on and off at the times you choose. Focus mode and schedules are Pro features on iPhone and Mac.
For YouTube, UnLoop works in Chrome and in Safari, not inside the YouTube app.
Free, in Chrome.
Free to hide Shorts in Safari. Pro adds focus mode and schedules.
Free to hide Shorts in Safari. One Pro subscription covers iPhone and Mac.
Start with what is free
Free on Chrome, iPhone and Mac.
Hide Shorts from feeds removes Shorts shelves and thumbnails from the home page, search and subscriptions. Open Shorts links in the normal player sends a Shorts link to the regular watch page so the video plays like any other.
If you study on a laptop in Chrome, these two may be all you need. The Pro tools below are not in the Chrome extension.
Pro tools for study time
Focus mode and schedules are Pro tools, and they run on iPhone and Mac.
Focus mode
Pro. iPhone and Mac.
Focus mode keeps blocking on until you turn it off. Switch it on when you sit down to work and it stays on until you switch it off yourself.
Schedules
Pro. iPhone and Mac.
Schedules turn blocking on and off automatically at the times you choose. If you study at set times, the schedule starts and stops blocking for you, so you do not have to remember to switch it on.
Pro also includes streaks, which count your days in a row, and time-saved stats, which show an estimate of the time you got back.
Lectures and normal videos still play
Only Shorts are hidden. A lecture opens and plays like any other video.
With Pro, Hide recommendations and comments also clears suggested videos and the comment section on YouTube in Safari, so a lecture is just the lecture. That feature is not in the Chrome extension.
If Reels or TikTok are the problem
Block Reels on Instagram and Facebook and Block TikTok are two more Pro features, on iPhone and Mac.
Where each part works
| Where you study | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome on a computer | Free: Hide Shorts from feeds, Open Shorts links in the normal player, Hide the Shorts tab | Pro: Not in the Chrome extension |
| iPhone and Mac | Free: Hide Shorts from feeds, Open Shorts links in the normal player | Pro: Focus mode, Schedules, Streaks, Time-saved stats, Hide recommendations and comments (YouTube in Safari only), Block Reels on Instagram and Facebook, Block TikTok |
UnLoop's Safari extensions work in Safari, not inside the YouTube app. Open YouTube in Safari when you study.
Set it up before your next session
- Install UnLoop on the device you study on.
- On iPhone or Mac, turn on the Safari extension, then open YouTube in Safari.
- With Pro, turn on focus mode or set a schedule for your study hours.
The extension and apps collect no data and use no third-party tracking.
Questions about studying with UnLoop
Can UnLoop block Reels and TikTok?
How do focus mode and schedules work?
How does one subscription cover iPhone and Mac?
Does UnLoop block Shorts inside the YouTube app?
Set up UnLoop before you study
Hiding Shorts is free in Chrome and in Safari on iPhone and Mac.
Pro adds more tools on iPhone and Mac, and one Apple subscription covers both.
Free, in Chrome.
Free to hide Shorts in Safari. Pro adds focus mode and schedules.
Free to hide Shorts in Safari. One Pro subscription covers iPhone and Mac.