YouDefineTube: Block YouTube distractions, hide shorts, set time limits

Tracking since Apr 9, 2026.

Changelog

• Apr 20, 2026
  description

  Do you find yourself losing hours to mindless scrolling? Does a single search turn into a binge-watching session? YouDefineTube is a premium productivity extension designed to turn YouTube back into a tool for learning and intentional entertainment, not a distraction trap.
  
  Why YouDefineTube? Unlike simple site blockers, YouDefineTube gives you granular control. We don't just "block" YouTube; we help you define how you use it. Break the scrolling cycle and stay focused on what matters.
  
  ✨ Key Focus Features:
  🚫 Hide Shorts: Completely remove the Shorts shelf and sidebar entries to eliminate low-effort distractions.
  🎯 Intentional Homepage: Replace the infinite recommendation grid with a high-focus message, encouraging you to search for specifically what you came to watch.
  🧹 UI Declutter: Hide Comments, Live Chat, Recommended Sidebars, and End Screen suggestions for a truly cinematic, distraction-free experience.
  
  📊 Smart Time Tracking: Understand your habits with a professional dashboard that categorizes your time:
  Watching: Time spent actually viewing videos.
  Browsing: Time spent exploring the homepage or channel pages.
  Searching: Time spent looking for specific content.
  
  ⏳ Goal-Based Limits:
  Set a daily time goal (e.g., 45 minutes).
  Once reached, a gentle but firm overlay blocks further distractions.
  Need just a few more minutes? Use our Friction Extensions (2 per day, 5 mins each) to finish a specific video without enabling a binge.
  
  🌓 Premium Design:
  A stunning, modern interface with full Dark Mode support.
  Light-weight and optimized—doesn't slow down your browser.

  YouDefineTube is a lightweight YouTube distraction blocker that puts you back in control. It removes the features YouTube uses to keep you scrolling — Shorts, homepage recommendations, sidebar suggestions, and search clutter — so you only see what you actually came for. Set a daily YouTube time limit, track your usage, and browse distraction-free. No data leaves your browser. Ever.
  
  HOW TO GET STARTED
  1. Install the YouDefineTube extension.
  2. Pin it to your toolbar for quick access.
  3. Toggle the distractions you want to block.
  Changes take effect immediately — no page refresh needed.
  
  BLOCK YOUTUBE DISTRACTIONS
  • Hide YouTube Shorts from your feed, sidebar, and navigation.
  • Hide homepage recommendations — stop the endless scroll before it starts. Optionally redirect to your Subscriptions feed instead.
  • Block video sidebar suggestions ("Up next") so you watch what you chose, not what the algorithm chose.
  • Hide end screens that push you toward "just one more video."
  • Hide comments and live chat to stay focused on the content.
  
  DECLUTTER YOUTUBE SEARCH RESULTS
  YouTube fills your search results with content you didn't ask for. Remove them:
  • "People also watched"
  • "People also search for"
  • "From related searches"
  • "Channels new to you"
  • "Explore more"
  Toggle each one individually — keep what's useful, remove what's not.
  
  SET A DAILY YOUTUBE TIME LIMIT
  • Set a custom daily limit in hours and minutes.
  • Get notified when you hit your limit — both as a browser notification and an on-page alert.
  • Track how much time you spend watching, browsing, and searching YouTube with a detailed breakdown.
  • Request up to 2 five-minute extensions per day if you need a little more time.
  
  DARK & LIGHT MODE
  • The extension respects your preference. Switch between dark mode and light mode with one click.
  
  YOUR PRIVACY
  YouDefineTube does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data. All settings and usage data stay in your browser's local storage. No analytics, no tracking, no external servers.

• Apr 20, 2026
  name

  YouDefineTube

  YouDefineTube: Block YouTube distractions, hide shorts, set time limits

Permissions & access

Permissions

storagenotificationsalarms

Host access

https://www.youtube.com/*, https://m.youtube.com/*

Screenshots