Google's video platform has taken a turn that many users have been demanding for some time: now it's possible Exclude Shorts from YouTube search resultsThe change does not transform the essence of the service, but it does provide relief for those who use the portal as a kind of audiovisual library and were faced with an avalanche of short vertical clips every time they searched for something specific.
This new development is part of a broader reorganization of search filtersThe initiative aims to simplify the menu while offering greater control over the type of content displayed. The rollout is already underway in several countries, including Spain and other European markets, and will be activated gradually over the coming weeks.
A specific filter to separate long videos and shorts.
The most visible change is the addition of a new filter within the "Type" section This feature allows users to choose whether they want to see only traditional videos, only Shorts, or a combination of both, including channels, playlists, and movies. Previously, searches indiscriminately mixed long horizontal videos with short vertical clips, which was particularly annoying when searching for tutorials, reviews, or documentaries.
As the company explained in its blog and in the official Help sectionWhen you enter a search query and tap the "Filters" button, a menu appears with clearly differentiated categories for "Videos" and "Shorts." Selecting only "Videos" or deselecting "Shorts" removes short content from the results page, leaving only the standard-format posts visible.
Meanwhile, the usual filter by durationwith ranges of less than 3 minutes, between 3 and 20 minutes, and more than 20 minutes. By combining both options, the user can, for example, search exclusively for videos longer than 20 minutes related to a specific topic, which is useful for students, professionals, or anyone who needs in-depth material.
This adjustment comes after years of complaints from the community, who saw how the Shorts, clearly inspired by the TikTok formatThey colonized key spaces such as search results or the Subscriptions tab. For those They consume YouTube from their computer or television, or simply prefer long explanations to short clips, the new tool represents a tangible change.
How the new filter works to exclude Shorts
Using the filter isn't too complicated, but it's important to be clear on the basics. the specific routes to activate itThe process is the same in both the desktop web version and the mobile app, although the button layout changes slightly depending on the device.
First of all, it is enough to Type your search in the top bar From YouTube, either from a browser or the app. Once the first results load, the "Filters" button appears below the search box. Tapping it displays a list of advanced options, including the "Type" section.
Within that section, several distinct categories are now displayed: Shorts, long videos, channels, playlists, and moviesAmong other things. To hide short videos, the user can directly select "Videos" or uncheck Shorts, so that the system only considers traditional formats in that specific query.
The configuration can be further refined by combining other filters, such as duration, upload date, or the new priority option. This makes it possible Filter by long videos uploaded this month and sorted by popularityThis is especially useful if you are looking for courses, lectures, masterclasses or extensive analyses on a technical topic.
However, YouTube has clarified that The filter is not saved as a permanent preference.In other words, each search starts from scratch, and if you want to exclude Shorts, you have to repeat the process. This detail has generated some criticism, as many users were asking for a global option to permanently disable the short format, but for now the platform only offers control at the individual search level.
Menu changes: from "Sort" to "Priority" and now "Popularity"
The introduction of the Shorts filter comes with a reform of the results classification systemThe old "Sort by" menu has been renamed "Priority" (or "Prioritize", depending on the translation shown in each interface), with the idea of better reflecting that these options are used to decide which criteria are taken into account first when displaying videos.
Within this menu, the classic "Number of views" option has been replaced by "Popularity"This is not just a cosmetic change: as Google explains, the new metric takes into account not only accumulated views, but also indicators such as viewing time and other factors that help determine if a video truly maintains audience interest.
With this move, the platform seeks reward content that retains the audience over those that get quick clicks but cause viewers to abandon their videos within seconds. In practice, this can mean that some videos with fewer total views but a better completion rate can outperform others that rely on catchy titles or aggressive thumbnails.
This approach fits particularly well with usage habits in Europe and in Spainwhere it's common to turn to YouTube to watch talks, long interviews, informative analyses, or technical tutorials. By combining the Popularity criterion with filters for type and duration, it becomes easier to find quality material without having to navigate through dozens of fleeting clips.
Filters disappear: fewer options, but a cleaner menu
As part of the same update, YouTube has decided Remove some filters that were registering very low usage. or which, according to the company itself, generated more confusion than benefits. One of the features sacrificed is "Upload date: last hour," which allowed users to limit their search exclusively to videos published in the last sixty minutes.
The option also disappears "Sort by rating"which ordered the results based on user ratings. The company admits that these criteria had little real impact on the daily experience, and that in many cases they produced results that were not intuitive for those who did not remember having activated that filter previously.
Despite these removals, the platform emphasizes that The ability to locate recent content is not lost.The "Upload Date" filter is still available with the categories "today", "this week", "this month" and "this year", which are sufficient to keep track of the latest posts without needing more extreme options.
The stated goal of this cleanup is to avoid menus cluttered with combinations that almost no one uses, while strengthening the tools that They really have an impact on everyday lifeIn a context where the volume of videos uploaded to YouTube is constantly growing, simplifying without losing control has become a delicate balance for the platform.
Shorts, saturation, and why this change was so eagerly awaited
Shorts were born as the YouTube's response to the rise of short, vertical videoPopularized by TikTok and replicated by other services like Instagram Reels, these are short videos of up to three minutes, designed for quick consumption on mobile devices, which the algorithm has heavily promoted on the homepage and in recommendations.
The success of the format has brought with it a massive expansion of short clips into almost every corner of the platformSome of this content reuses material from other networks, while another part, increasingly visible, is produced with artificial intelligence tools that allow generating videos in large quantities with minimal effort.
Recent reports indicate that a considerable proportion of the content suggested by YouTube They exhibit some degree of automation, with repetitive structures and little added value. This phenomenon, which some analysts refer to as “AI Slop,” has fueled the feeling of user saturation who use the platform in search of detailed information.
In that context, the option of filter or exclude Shorts from searches This is interpreted as a way to regain some control over what appears on screen. Those who use YouTube to study, work, or stay informed can now significantly reduce the noise caused by the avalanche of ultra-short clips, without having to leave the platform or resort to third-party extensions.
It should be noted, however, that the function does not completely eliminate the presence of the short format: Shorts continue to appear in the Subscriptions tab and in other sections of the main feedAnd for now, there is no global switch to disable them across the entire user experience.
Who benefits most from the new filters in Spain and Europe
The arrival of these changes is especially relevant for users who rely on YouTube as a training and information toolStudents taking online classes, teachers looking for support material, journalists tracking down audiovisual archives, or professionals consulting technical tutorials would notice a direct improvement in their daily lives.
For this profile, constantly having to dodge Shorts that barely last a few seconds is a challenge. It made the search process slower and more frustrating.Being able to exclude the short format with a couple of taps speeds up navigation and reduces the feeling of digging through irrelevant content before finding the video that really interests you.
The creators focused on long videos and elaborate productions They can also benefit. By more precisely segmenting the type of content that appears in the results, they increase the likelihood that their work will gain visibility when the user clearly indicates they are looking for longer-form material.
At the same time, those who enjoy light consumption of Shorts They do not lose access to that formatThey can continue using it as before, or even prioritize it in their searches by explicitly selecting the corresponding category within the Type menu, which reinforces the idea that the changes are more about control than imposition.
In the specific case of Spain and other European countries, where the authorities and users They are closely examining the impact of algorithms and content saturation.The ability to modulate what type of videos appear in a search fits with the trend of demanding more transparency and more customization options from major platforms.
Implications for creation strategies and the future of search
For the creator community, these adjustments serve as a wake-up call when it comes to plan the combination of formats within the same channelShorts will continue to be key for quick reach and attracting new audiences, but longer videos are gaining ground when users choose to prioritize depth and context in their searches.
Many channels, including those in Spain and the rest of Europe, are already committed to hybrid strategiesShort videos that serve as a hook or teaser, and longer pieces that develop the content. The appearance of such an explicit filter reinforces the importance of considering how people will find these videos when they type in specific queries, not just how the recommendation algorithm will behave.
The new metric of Popularity, also based on viewing timeThis implies that simply attracting clicks is not enough; maintaining the audience's attention is crucial. This could encourage better-structured productions, with shorter introductions and valuable information from the very first minutes, to prevent viewers from abandoning the site.
Google indicates that the company It will continue to monitor the use of these filters and the audience's reaction. Further adjustments are not ruled out in the coming months, depending on how the balance between quick consumption and in-depth consumption evolves, and on regulatory and social pressure regarding the quality of recommended content.
The updated YouTube filters aim for a better search experience more manageable and consistent with the actual way the platform is usedThose who want Shorts will still have them at hand, and those who prefer long videos will finally have a native tool to remove the short format from their results without giving up the rest of the catalog.
