YouTube has introduced a highly anticipated update to its search filters. This gives users the option to exclude Shorts from their search results so they can concentrate solely on regular, longer videos instead.
They addressed feedback from viewers tired of short vertical videos dominating search results when looking for long-form content. Now users can filter their searches by content type: either just regular videos or just Shorts, depending on what they want. The change helps people find more of the content they want such as detailed tutorials and educational videos or full-length entertainment by reducing the clutter.
After YouTube rearranged and simplified the search filters, a new choice popped up. Users can now pick “long videos” or “shorts.” Selecting the former will exclude YouTube Shorts from your results but if you select the latter, only Shorts will appear. This choice is being introduced across desktops, mobile devices, and smart TVs.
Together with the Shorts filter, YouTube has also changed a few things in the way it organizes search results. The old “Sort By” label for video searches is now called “Prioritize” instead a move that aims to better represent how the platform ranks videos. It also swapped out the classic “View Count” option for one marked “Popularity.” This new metric takes into account not just views but also engagement signals like watch time.
In addition, a few filters that people don’t use very often were taken away by YouTube such as “Upload Date- Last Hour” and “Sort by Rating.” The streaming platform said the update should make its search tools easier to understand and better at finding videos. Initial user reactions were mainly positive, especially from people who liked longer videos and felt Shorts interrupted their browsing. But some creators and power users were concerned when YouTube removed some sorting options– they argued that having fewer filters could make it harder to see how content is found.
These adjustments clearly indicate that YouTube is responding to the massive increase in short videos but also wants to be famous for its long views. By allowing users to select their preferred video formats, YouTube gives them greater control over how they discover and watch content on the site– rather than just serving up an algorithmically determined mix.
