ShortBlocker
Block Reels and Shorts. Keep everything else.
- Regular videos still play
- Videos friends send you still play
- No ads, ever. No account.
- Free blocks one app at a time
ShortBlocker is a free short video blocker for Android. It steps you out of YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, TikTok, Facebook Reels and Snapchat Spotlight, and leaves the rest of each app alone.
Free with no ads; Premium is optional. Android 8 or later. Works with YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.
Why ShortBlocker
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Watch regular videos
Only short videos are blocked. Long YouTube videos, your feed, Stories, search and profiles all keep working. You don’t have to delete the app to stop the scroll.
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Friends’ videos still play
A Reel or short video sent to you in a message plays, so you can watch it and reply. Swipe on to the recommended videos after it, and they’re blocked again. Works in Instagram, TikTok, Facebook (from Messenger) and Snapchat.
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No ads. No account.
ShortBlocker has no ads, no sign-up and no tracking. Nothing leaves your phone unless you choose to send a report.
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A free plan you can use
Free blocks one app at a time, with every feature: pause, reports and updates. Change which app whenever you like. Premium blocks all five at once.
How it works
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Install
Get ShortBlocker from Google Play.
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Switch on an app
Open ShortBlocker and switch on the app you want to block.
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Allow access
Read the notice, agree, and turn ShortBlocker on in Android’s accessibility settings. Short videos are blocked from then on.
More screens
Free vs Premium
| Feature | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Block YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Instagram Reels, Facebook Reels, Snapchat Spotlight | One app at a time | All five at once |
| Change which app is blocked | Any time | Any time |
| Regular videos and videos friends send you still play | Yes | Yes |
| Pause blocking (up to 24 hours) | Yes | Yes |
| Report a miss or a mistake | Yes | Yes |
| Detection updates | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | None | None |
| Account | None | None |
| Price (US) | Free | $12.99/year (about $1.08/month) or $1.99/month |
No weekly plans. Monthly and yearly start with a 7-day free trial for new customers. Cancel any time in Google Play. Local prices are shown in the app.
Questions
Can I block YouTube Shorts but still watch regular YouTube videos?
Yes. ShortBlocker only blocks Shorts. Home, search, subscriptions, channels, comments and long videos all keep working.
Can I still watch a video a friend sends me?
Yes, in Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook (a Reel sent in Messenger). The video you were sent plays, so you can watch it and reply. If you swipe on to the recommended videos after it, ShortBlocker blocks them. YouTube is the exception: a Shorts link sent to you opens in YouTube’s Shorts player and is blocked.
Is ShortBlocker free?
Yes. The free version blocks one app at a time, with no ads, and you can change which app whenever you like. Premium blocks all five apps at once.
Does it have ads or need an account?
No. There are no ads, no account, no sign-up and no tracking.
Which apps does it block?
YouTube Shorts, TikTok (including TikTok Lite), Instagram Reels, Facebook Reels in the main Facebook app, and Snapchat Spotlight.
Does it block short videos in a web browser?
No. It works in the apps above. Websites, Stories and Facebook Lite aren’t blocked.
Can I take a break from blocking?
Yes. Pause blocking for 5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes, or any length up to 24 hours. It switches back on by itself, or you can resume early.
Why does it need accessibility access?
Android’s accessibility service is how ShortBlocker sees that a short video has opened in a supported app and leaves it. It reads those apps’ screens on your phone only. Nothing is stored or sent. You turn it on yourself in Android settings and can turn it off at any time.
Which Android phones does it work on?
Android phones running Android 8 or later.
How much does Premium cost?
Premium is optional. In the US it costs $12.99/year (about $1.08/month) or $1.99/month. There are no weekly plans. Both start with a 7-day free trial for new customers, and you can cancel any time in Google Play. Local prices are shown in the app.
Is ShortBlocker made by YouTube, TikTok or Meta?
No. ShortBlocker is developed independently by SNOR LTD and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Google, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Meta or Snap. Those names are trademarks of their owners.
Get ShortBlocker