YouTube keeps forcing Shorts on me at launch; this hidden setting stops it

YouTube Shorts have been overwhelming some users with their constant appearance at the start of the app. Despite their popularity on other platforms like TikTok and Instagram, YouTube has decided to push these short videos into its own app, causing frustration among its users. When opening the YouTube app, Shorts would appear and block users from accessing their subscriptions or homepage, making it difficult to navigate the platform.

This issue has been reported by multiple Reddit users, but Google has not acknowledged it yet, and no update has been released to fix the bug. The best workaround for this issue, according to users, is to adjust the Time Management settings in the YouTube app. By reducing the time allotted for Shorts, they will no longer appear before users enter the app's homepage.

However, this workaround may not be suitable for everyone, as it can limit access to short-form videos. To keep watching Shorts without any restrictions, users can disable feed playback and autoplay in the app's settings. These solutions may affect the app's performance, so users have to try different combinations to find the best solution for their situation.

Other workarounds include clearing the app's cache, logging out and back into the account, and tapping and holding the app icon to go directly to the Subscriptions page, bypassing the Shorts-loaded home screen. While Google needs to address the glitch and release a patch, these quick fixes can help alleviate some of the frustration until then.