Sick and tired of these YouTube shorts always being in your search results? Its been a massive plague the past several years, where shorts were taking over YouTube as it was nothing. However, this day is coming to an end and you are going to love it. YouTube is rolling out a new set of search filter updates designed to give users more control over the type of videos they see in search results. The most notable change is a long-requested option that allows users to completely filter out Shorts, making it easier to find full-length videos when searching by topic.
The update follows widespread feedback from viewers who felt that mixing short-form and long-form content in the same results made it harder to locate the videos they were actually looking for. According to YouTube, the changes aim to make search more intuitive and help users reach relevant content faster.
Shorts and long videos finally get separate filters
One of the biggest improvements is the addition of a dedicated Shorts filter under the Type menu. Instead of seeing Shorts and full videos blended together, users can now choose exactly which format they want to browse.
This means viewers who prefer longer content can avoid short clips entirely, while fans of Shorts can focus only on quick, vertical videos without clutter from standard uploads. It is a small change on the surface, but one that significantly improves how people navigate YouTube’s growing mix of formats.
“Sort By” becomes “Prioritize” with smarter rankings
YouTube is also reworking how its sorting tools are presented. The familiar Sort By menu is being renamed to Prioritize, a shift meant to better explain how results are ranked.
As part of this update:
- View count is now labeled Popularity
- The Popularity option looks at more than just raw views
- Watch time and relevance signals are now factored in to surface widely watched and meaningful content
YouTube says this approach helps users find videos that are not only popular, but also closely aligned with what they are searching for.
Some filters are being removed
Alongside the new tools, YouTube is simplifying its filter system by removing options that saw little use or caused confusion.
The following filters are being retired:
- Upload Date – Last Hour
- Sort by Rating
Users will still be able to find recent videos using the remaining Upload Date filters, and highly watched content will now be easier to discover through the new Popularity option.
A small update with a big impact
While these changes may seem minor at first glance, they address one of the most common frustrations with YouTube search: the lack of clear separation between Shorts and traditional videos. By refining filters and modernizing how results are ranked, YouTube is making it easier for users to take control of their viewing experience instead of adapting to the platform’s algorithms.
For creators, this could also mean better visibility within the right format, as Shorts and long-form videos are no longer competing in the same space during searches.
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