How to Make YouTube Less Distracting

Discover simple ways to make YouTube less distracting. Set time limits, read transcripts, clear watch history, and choose videos wisely.

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YouTube has great content, but it can be distracting. To Make YouTube Less Distracting so, set time limits, turn off autoplay and save videos to “Watch Later.” These steps will help you enjoy YouTube without wasting time.

Use Transcripts Instead

Reading YouTube video transcripts instead of watching them can save you a lot of time. A transcript is simply a text version of the video, which you can read much faster than watching the video at normal speed.

Many YouTube creators speak slower than the average reading speed, which often causes viewers to increase the playback speed. However, by using transcripts you can easily skim through content without needing to adjust the speed. Plus, transcripts allow you to spot the useful content quickly & avoid unnecessary fluff or filler in the video.

Another advantage of reading transcripts is that you may skip adverts and sponsored parts and go right to the core subject you’re interested in.

You don’t even need to use an external tool to get transcripts for YouTube videos—YouTube itself has an automatic caption generator that works quite well most of the time.

To access transcript: simply open video you want, click on the “More” button in the description box and select “Show Transcript.” Transcript will display time stamps next to each line & you can click on any time stamp to jump directly to that part of the video.

Use a Timer for YouTube

Setting a timer for YouTube is a great way to prevent yourself from getting lost in endless videos, especially when watching on your phone.

To set a timer on Android: go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls. Tap “App Timers” and then select YouTube. You can adjust the timer duration under the “Screen time chart” section. Once the timer ends, you’ll get a notification and you’ll need to wait until the next day to use YouTube again.

If you’re using iOS, you can set a time limit for YouTube through the Screen Time feature.

For better control, you can also set a timer that matches your break duration or one that stops when your specific video ends. YouTube also offers a feature to remind you to take breaks or stop watching but using a timer is a stronger method.

The trick is to avoid bypassing the timer. If you find a video you wish to preserve, add it to your “Watch Later” list rather than prolonging your watching time.

Switch to Watching YouTube on Your PC

Smartphones are designed to keep you distracted. With constant notifications and apps that fill the screen with endless content, it’s easy to get caught in the loop. Phones are also portable, making them tempting for quick breaks or to pass the time.

However, watching YouTube on a desktop computer can help reduce distractions. The desktop version of YouTube is less immersive, making it harder to fall into endless video watching. While it might not always be possible, I try to limit my YouTube time to my PC, so I can focus only on the content I need.

Watching YouTube on a computer also gives you the ability to use browser extensions that make the platform less time-consuming. Tools like DeArrow, which shows more accurate and community-curated titles, and Unhook, which removes recommended videos and Shorts, can help you manage your time better on YouTube.

Choose Your Videos Wisely

To cut down on your YouTube watch time, it helps to be more mindful of what you’re watching. Before you click on a video, take a moment to think about how much value it will bring to your time and attention. Often, video won’t be as interesting as the flashy thumbnail or clickbait title suggests.

Look back at the videos you’ve watched before and think about their impact. Life is too short to waste on videos that don’t really add anything to your day. By being aware of what the YouTube algorithm is recommending, you can make better choices about what to watch.

Also, videos that you didn’t actively search for are usually not worth your time. While you might occasionally find something interesting, these moments are rare and it’s easy to get caught in an endless scroll. Making a conscious decision to evaluate what you watch will help you be more focused and less distracted.

Clear and Disable YouTube watch history

Deleting or turning off your YouTube watch history is a powerful way to stop unwanted recommendations and remove distractions. If you delete your watch history, your homepage will only show the search bar and a prompt to turn the history back on. On browsers, you can avoid the homepage completely by bookmarking your subscriptions.

Once you delete your watch history, you can’t recover it.

If you’re not ready to delete it completely, you can pause your watch history instead. This makes it harder for the algorithm to suggest new videos, but you’ll still get recommendations based on things like your likes, searches and subscriptions.

YouTube is a great platform but can easily become a time drain. By following these steps, you can regain control and spend less time on videos that don’t add value.