> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.focusme.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Block YouTube Shorts

> Block YouTube Shorts and similar short-form video while keeping regular YouTube accessible.

Short-form video (YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, TikTok) is engineered for infinite scrolling. Here's how to block it selectively.

## Block YouTube Shorts Only

You can block Shorts while keeping regular YouTube videos, search, and channels accessible.

<Frame caption="Adding youtube.com/shorts as a partial URL block">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/focusme/f2B5B4S6h27RCqMA/images/guide-block-youtube-shorts-url.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=f2B5B4S6h27RCqMA&q=85&s=bbad2609fc7a1e5edaee42d46a006201" width="1002" height="710" data-path="images/guide-block-youtube-shorts-url.png" />
</Frame>

1. **Add a Plan** → choose **Block** → **Block Some Websites**
2. Add this URL: `youtube.com/shorts`
3. This blocks the Shorts feed and individual Shorts, but allows everything else on YouTube

<Info>FocusMe matches URLs by substring, so `youtube.com/shorts` catches both `youtube.com/shorts` (the feed) and `youtube.com/shorts/abc123` (individual videos).</Info>

## Block the Shorts Shelf on the Homepage

YouTube also shows Shorts on the main homepage and in search results. To catch these, add a **title-based** entry:

1. Add a website entry with **Title** matching: `Shorts`
2. This blocks any browser tab that has "Shorts" in the title

<Warning>Title matching is broad — make sure "Shorts" doesn't appear in other window titles you need. If it does, use the more specific URL approach.</Warning>

## Block All Short-Form Video

To block Shorts, Reels, and TikTok in one plan:

| Platform             | URL to Block          |
| -------------------- | --------------------- |
| YouTube Shorts       | `youtube.com/shorts`  |
| Instagram Reels      | `instagram.com/reels` |
| TikTok (entire site) | `tiktok.com`          |
| Facebook Reels       | `facebook.com/reel`   |

Add all of these to a single plan for comprehensive short-form video blocking.

## Using RegEx for Broader Matching

For advanced users, a single RegEx entry can catch multiple short-form video patterns:

```
(youtube\.com/shorts|instagram\.com/reels|facebook\.com/reel|tiktok\.com)
```

Check the **RegEx** box on the entry for this to work.

[Learn more about RegEx →](/advanced/regex)