YouTube Cognitive Load Mode

Name: YouTube Cognitive Load Mode
Rating: 4.5 (2 reviews)
Author: Shailesh Mannur

Reduce distractions and encourage intentional watching on YouTube.

As of June 2026, YouTube Cognitive Load Mode has — users and a 4.50/5 rating from 2 reviews in the Workflow & Planning category.

Shailesh Mannur Workflow & Planning

Chrome Web Store ↗.crx

Users0%

—

Rating+12.5%

4.50

2 reviews

Reviews+100.0%

Version

0.1.0

Manifest V3

History

1 snapshots

Tracking since May 30, 2026.

Not enough history yet for this metric — the chart fills in as we collect more snapshots.

View as table

Date	Users	Rating	Reviews	Version
May 30, 2026	—	4.00	1	0.1.0
Now	—	4.50	2	0.1.0

Permissions & access

Permissions: storagenotifications
Host access: https://www.youtube.com/*, https://www.music.youtube.com/*

Screenshots

YouTube Cognitive Load Mode screenshot 1

YouTube Cognitive Load Mode screenshot 2

About

**YouTube Cognitive Load Mode** helps you watch videos with intention instead of falling into endless recommendations.

YouTube is optimized for engagement, not understanding. Sidebars, autoplay, end screens, and comments constantly pull your attention away from what you chose to watch. This extension removes those distractions and gently enforces focus.

### What it does

* Hides recommended videos, Shorts shelves, and end screens
* Disables autoplay so videos don’t chain endlessly
* Automatically pauses playback when the tab loses focus
* Keeps the watch page clean and calm

### What it does *not* do

* It does not block ads
* It does not track you or collect personal data
* It does not require sign-in or external services

### Who it’s for

* Students and self-learners
* Developers and researchers
* Anyone who uses YouTube to learn, not just scroll

Cognitive Load Mode is intentionally minimal. No dashboards, no guilt metrics, no productivity pressure. Just fewer traps and more clarity.

Enable it when you want to learn. Disable it when you want to browse.