I Turned Off the YouTube Home Feed for 30 Days — Here’s What Happened

TL;DR

Hiding the YouTube Home Feed reduced my aimless visits by ~70%, improved watch-time quality (more lectures, fewer Shorts), and eliminated binge loops by disabling autoplay and end-screen feeds. I used Superpower YouTube to apply one-click rules.

Why I Did It

The Home Feed is engineered for discovery, not focus. Every refresh behaves like a slot machine—Shorts, Trending, and “because you watched…” tiles compete for your attention. I wanted YouTube to be a tool, not a time sink—so I hid the Home Feed for 30 days and opened only what I planned to watch.

• Reduce compulsive browsing and rabbit holes
• Replace passive scrolling with purposeful viewing (tutorials, subscriptions)
• Test whether a cleaner YouTube improves study and work sessions

The Rules of the 30-Day Experiment

1. No Home Feed. Home was hidden entirely.
2. Redirect to Subscriptions. Typing youtube.com landed me on Subscriptions.
3. No Shorts. The Shorts shelf stayed hidden.
4. No Autoplay & No End Screen Feed. Stopped the “next video” spiral.
5. Optional Blur/Hide Thumbnails. Reduced clickbait impulses during work.
6. Focus Windows. A daily “quiet hours” schedule during work/study time.

I used the Superpower YouTube extension to toggle all of this quickly (free trial available).

Week 1: Withdrawal (and Why That’s Good)

The first days felt odd. My muscle memory typed “you” into the address bar. Instead of the glittering Home Feed, I saw a plain, chronological Subscriptions list—intentional by design.

• I opened YouTube less often because there was nothing to “just check.”
• When I did open it, I knew why—watch a lecture, review a tutorial, follow a playlist.
• Sessions were shorter but more useful—no accidental bingeing.

Takeaway: The urge to “quickly see what’s new” was habit, not curiosity. Removing the feed broke that loop.

Week 2: The “Clean Inbox” Effect

Subscriptions started to feel like an inbox I chose. Channels I value were there; everything else stayed out of sight.

• Random opens/day: ↓ from ~10 to ~3
• Average session length: ↓ from ~20 min to ~9 min
• “Regret views” (subjective): ↓ significantly
• “Useful views” (tutorials/lectures): ↑ noticeably

Takeaway: Quality went up because intention went up. When the feed isn’t selling you videos, you start choosing them.

Week 3: Pairing With Focus Sessions

I added a 25/5 Pomodoro Focus Session that automatically enforced my rules during work blocks.

• Hide Home Feed + Redirect to Subscriptions (always)
• Hide Shorts & Recommendations (work hours)
• Disable Autoplay + Hide End Screen Feed (always)
• Optional Blur/Hide Thumbnails (study mode)

Takeaway: Scheduling + blocking beats willpower. Set rules once; let them run.

Week 4: What I Missed (and Didn’t)

I expected to miss serendipity. I didn’t. If I wanted novelty, I used Search or Subscriptions. I still discovered new creators via trusted channels or Watch-page suggestions (with strict controls).

• Lower stress. A quiet homepage feels like a clean desk.
• Better memory. Fewer, longer videos improved retention.
• More control. I stopped feeling “done to” by the algorithm.

Takeaway: The right kind of discovery still happens—without hijacking your attention.

Exact Settings I Used (Copy/Paste)

• 🏠 Hide Home Feed
• 📺 Redirect to Subscriptions
• 🎬 Hide Shorts
• 🧭 Hide Recommendations
• 🔚 Hide End Screen Feed
• ⛔ Disable Autoplay
• 🖼️ Blur/Hide Thumbnails (optional)
• 📰 Hide Breaking News
• 🕒 Hide During 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
• ⏱️ Focus Session 25/5
• 🔒 Lock Settings (shared devices)

These are single toggles in Superpower YouTube; enable/disable anytime.

The Psychology: Why Hiding the Feed Works

• Removes variable rewards. No slot-machine feed, weaker compulsion loop.
• Restores intention. Subscriptions/Search require micro-goals.
• Cuts visual triggers. Thumbnails & end screens are impulse engines.
• Stops automatic chaining. No autoplay, no “just one more.”

Objections (and Honest Answers)

Results After 30 Days

• Less time wasted; more learning watched
• Fewer “how did I end up here?” moments
• YouTube feels like a library, not a casino
• Better focus across coding, writing, and study sessions

Would I go back to the default Home Feed? No—intention beats impulse.

Try It Yourself (2-Minute Setup)

1. Install Superpower YouTube.
2. Enable: Hide Home Feed, Redirect to Subscriptions, Hide Shorts, Disable Autoplay, Hide End Screen Feed.
3. Optional: Blur/Hide Thumbnails during work sessions.
4. Add a Focus Session (25/5) or a weekday “Hide During” schedule (9–5).
5. Give it 7 days, then review how you feel.