Shorts Shield

About

# Shorts Shield

Shorts Shield is a lightweight, zero-overhead browser extension (Manifest V3) that natively blocks and removes YouTube Shorts elements from your feeds, sidebars, and search results to reduce distractions and help you maintain focus.

## Features
- **Total Elimination:** Aggressively targets and hides Shorts grids, shelves, and navigation tabs.
- **Zero Layout Thrashing:** Uses a pure CSS architecture (`display: none` paired with `:has()` selectors) ensuring no infinite redirect loops or JavaScript lag.
- **Toggle Control:** Features a simple pop-up UI that lets you turn the blocker on or off instantly.
- **Background Protection:** Automatically catches and redirects any explicit `/shorts/` URL navigations to the standard `/watch?v=` YouTube player.
- **Kiwi Browser Support:** Fully compatible with mobile Chromium browsers that support extensions.

## Installation
1. Download or clone this repository.
2. Open Google Chrome or any Chromium-based browser (e.g., Edge, Brave, Kiwi Browser).
3. Navigate to `chrome://extensions/`.
4. Enable **Developer Mode** in the top right corner.
5. Click **Load unpacked** and select the directory containing this repository.

## Usage
Click the Shorts Shield icon in your browser toolbar to open the settings panel. Use the toggle switch to enable or disable the blocking functionality. The page will automatically reload to apply your preferences.

## Store Description (For Chrome Web Store)
*You can use this text when publishing your extension to the store.*

**English:**
> Tired of endless scrolling and distracting short videos? **Shorts Shield** is the ultimate, lightweight solution to permanently hide YouTube Shorts anywhere on the platform natively. 
> Designed with a zero-performance-cost Architecture, it seamlessly removes all Shorts shelves, sidebar tabs, grids, and recommendation panels without leaving any ugly empty spaces or causing infinite layout loop bugs that plague other blockers.
> Works smoothly with both Desktop Chrome and mobile Kiwi Browser. Reclaim your focus and enjoy a clean, distraction-free YouTube experience.

**Türkçe (Turkish):**
> Sürekli kaydırma döngüsünden ve dikkatinizi dağıtan kısa videolardan sıkıldınız mı? **Shorts Shield**, platformun neresinde olursa olsun YouTube Shorts videolarını tamamen ve yerel olarak gizleyen en güçlü ve hafif çözümdür. 
> Sıfır performans kaybı mimarisiyle tasarlanan uzantı; Shorts panellerini, yan menü sekmelerini ve öneri listelerini devasa iğrenç boşluklar bırakmadan ve diğer eklentilerde görülen "sonsuz yükleme" hatalarına düşmeden anında yok eder.
> Masaüstü Chrome ve mobil Kiwi Browser ile tam uyumludur. Odaklanmanızı geri kazanın ve tertemiz bir YouTube deneyiminin tadını çıkarın.

## Privacy Policy
We believe in absolute privacy. **Shorts Shield does not collect, store, or transmit any user data.** 
For full details required by the Chrome Web Store, please read our complete [Privacy Policy](PRIVACY.md).

## Authors & License
Developed by **Apeira Studios**.
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.