YouTube Shorts search filter for creators: next steps

If people can hide your Shorts from search with one tap, discoverability changes overnight. Not everywhere - but in the one place where intent (and ad dollars) are highest.

Don't panic. This can help you, if you adjust faster than the average creator.

What happened

YouTube is rolling out a new search filter that lets viewers exclude Shorts from search results. It's a gradual global rollout on mobile and desktop, so you may not see it yet. When used, search results will emphasize long‑form videos (and other non‑Shorts formats) while removing vertical, under‑60‑second content from the results page.

This only affects search. Home, Subscriptions, and the Shorts feed are unchanged. YouTube still auto-detects Shorts by format and length - using or skipping "#shorts" in your title doesn't override the classification.

Why creators should care

Search is where viewers declare intent. If more people choose "no Shorts," your short-form search impressions can dip, especially on how‑to, product, and evergreen queries. On the flip side, long‑form creators should see cleaner competition on the results page and more qualified clicks.

Shorts aren't dead in search - they'll still appear by default unless a viewer filters them out. But this is a clear signal: a segment of YouTube's audience wants depth when they're searching. YouTube is accommodating that behavior, just like it did when it split channels into Videos/Shorts/Live tabs.

Context worth knowing: Shorts reach remains massive (YouTube has publicly reported tens of billions of daily Shorts views and over 2 billion logged‑in monthly viewers). Distribution through the Shorts feed, recommendations, and the home page is unaffected. What changes is the mix of formats competing for search clicks, which typically monetize better and feed into longer sessions.

Search is where viewers raise their hand. If your answer is a 35‑second clip and they're asking for a 7‑minute solution, you've been losing that click anyway - now the UI just admits it.

The mentor take

I've seen this pattern for years: when a format floods a surface, platforms add a filter so intent wins again. TikTok did it with "Photo Mode" visibility, Instagram with feed vs. Reels controls, and YouTube keeps carving out lanes for Shorts vs. long‑form. The creators who win aren't married to a format - they're married to the viewer's job‑to‑be‑done.

Make the "search version" and the "scroll version" of your idea. The feed earns reach; search earns trust and revenue.

What to do next

Audit your search traffic by format: In YouTube Analytics, check Traffic source > YouTube Search, then filter by "Shorts" vs. "Videos." If Shorts search is a meaningful slice for you, set a weekly watch on impressions and CTR over the next month.
Publish long‑form companions for your top Shorts queries: Identify Shorts that rank or get search traffic and create a 5-12 minute video answering the same query in depth. Use descriptive titles, strong hooks in the first 15 seconds, and chapters that mirror common search sub‑questions.
Target intent with thumbnails and titles: For searchers, clarity beats clever. Front‑load the outcome ("Fix iPhone Overheating - 3 Proven Steps"), include the key term once, and show the end state in the thumbnail. Avoid format bait like "#shorts" in titles for long‑form.
Separate jobs in your content calendar: Use Shorts to spark demand (demos, quick wins, personality). Use long‑form to capture demand (tutorials, reviews, comparisons). Don't rely on Shorts for search‑led discovery; aim them at the Shorts feed and Browse.
Measure what matters post‑rollout: For long‑form, watch search impressions, average view duration, and new viewers. For Shorts, shift success criteria to feed metrics (views from Shorts feed, retention at 1s/2s/5s). If search declines for Shorts, that's expected - compensate with volume and stronger hooks.