Unhook

★ 4.7

Strip recommendations, Shorts, comments, and the homepage feed from YouTube — keep search and subscriptions

Last verified: April 2026

Install Unhook →
Type
extension
Pricing
free
Platforms
chrome, firefox, edge
Targets
youtube

Strengths

  • ✓ Granular — hide homepage, sidebar, Shorts, comments, end-screens, trending, and notifications independently
  • ✓ Search and subscriptions stay fully functional
  • ✓ Free with no premium upsell
  • ✓ Actively maintained — regular updates against YouTube UI changes
  • ✓ 4.7 average rating across tens of thousands of reviews
  • ✓ Works on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

Weaknesses

  • ✕ YouTube only — does nothing on other platforms
  • ✕ No keyword-based filtering — toggle-based only
  • ✕ Mobile YouTube (app) is not covered

Best for

YouTube users who want to keep search and subscriptions but eliminate every algorithmic surface — the gold-standard YouTube de-doomscroller

#youtube#feed-blocker#shorts#free

Unhook is a free Chrome, Firefox, and Edge extension that lets you hide the YouTube homepage, sidebar recommendations, Shorts shelves, comments, and end-screen suggestions independently — while keeping search and subscriptions fully functional. As of May 2026 it is the highest-rated YouTube attention tool, and the right install if you want to keep using YouTube as a search-and-watch utility instead of an algorithmic feed.

At a glance

FieldValue
PricingFree
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Edge
GranularityPer-surface toggles (homepage, sidebar, Shorts, comments, etc.)
Rating4.7 / 5 (tens of thousands of reviews)
Last verifiedMay 1, 2026

What Unhook does well

  • One toggle per algorithmic surface. Homepage, sidebar recommendations, Shorts shelf, end-screen suggestions, trending, comments, notifications — each has its own switch. Turn off only what hurts you.
  • Keeps the useful parts. Search bar and subscriptions are untouched. YouTube remains usable as a tool.
  • Active maintenance. YouTube ships UI changes frequently; Unhook ships compatibility updates close behind.
  • Free, no upsell. No premium tier, no “support us” modals. Just install and use.

What Unhook doesn’t do

  • Other platforms. YouTube only. For broader coverage use News Feed Eradicator.
  • Keyword filtering. You can hide the entire Shorts shelf, but you can’t say “hide videos with ‘reaction’ in the title.”
  • Mobile. The YouTube mobile app isn’t covered. On mobile, use YouTube in a Chrome-extension-compatible browser (Kiwi, Orion) or YouTube Revanced.

Best for

Anyone who uses YouTube to learn or watch specific channels but keeps getting pulled into the recommendation algorithm. Unhook surgically removes the algorithmic surfaces and leaves the utility.

Setup in 30 seconds

  1. Install from unhook.app (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge).
  2. Visit YouTube. The homepage is already gone.
  3. Click the Unhook icon to toggle individual surfaces (Shorts, sidebar, comments).
  4. Refresh the page.

For a YouTube that behaves like a search engine:

  • Homepage feed: off
  • Sidebar / Up Next: off
  • Shorts shelf: off
  • End-screen suggestions: off
  • Trending: off
  • Comments: on (or off if comments are your hole)
  • Subscriptions: on
  • Search: on

Alternatives

  • UnTrap for YouTube — paid alternative with overlapping features, deeper customization (CSS overrides). Pick if Unhook isn’t granular enough.
  • DF YouTube (Distraction Free) — lighter, fewer toggles, fewer surfaces.
  • Minimal YouTube — full UI replacement, not toggle-based.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions — click any to expand.

Yes — toggle 'Hide Shorts shelf' in the options. Shorts disappear from the homepage, sidebar, and search. The Shorts player itself is also hidden.

Remove the YouTube feed without quitting YouTube

Free · Chrome + Firefox + Edge

Install Unhook →