YouTube has announced a new set of updates for YouTube Shorts, introducing new playback controls, a cleaner viewing experience, and more personalized content recommendations. The latest features are rolling out gradually based on user feedback gathered since Shorts debuted five years ago.

The update focuses on reducing interface distractions, giving viewers greater control over playback, and improving how the Shorts recommendation system understands user preferences.

YouTube is introducing a new Clear Screen mode that removes on-screen interface elements while watching Shorts.

When enabled, the feature temporarily hides overlays such as video descriptions, creator information, and interaction buttons, allowing viewers to enjoy content with fewer visual distractions.

The Shorts player is also gaining several new features requested by users:

• 2x Playback Speed: Users can now watch Shorts at up to 2x speed, making it easier to quickly consume content or skip through longer videos.
• Audio Mute: Shorts can now be muted by pausing the video and tapping the dedicated mute button.
• Shorts Timer: A new timer feature lets users set viewing durations, including a 0-minute option for more precise control over Shorts sessions.

YouTube is refining how Shorts recommendations work by replacing vague feedback signals with more meaningful controls.

Instead of relying primarily on dislikes, the platform is encouraging users to provide clearer feedback that better reflects their viewing preferences.

The traditional Dislike button is being removed from the Shorts player.

According to YouTube, internal research showed that dislikes often represented different intentions, ranging from poor video quality to simply not being interested in the topic. As a result, the company believes options like ‘Not Interested’ and ‘Don’t Recommend This Channel’ provide more useful signals for improving recommendations.

Users can still report Shorts that violate YouTube’s Community Guidelines. The YouTube Shorts new features are rolling out gradually to YouTube Shorts users worldwide.