YouTube is cleaning up the Shorts player with a new Clear screen mode, 2x playback, easier mute controls, and a feedback redesign that removes the Dislike button from Shorts.
In an official YouTube Help Community post, TeamYouTube said the updates are meant to make Shorts feel less crowded and give viewers more precise ways to shape their feed.
It is part of a busy run of YouTube app updates, including the recent return of invite-only in-app messaging. This one is focused less on social sharing and more on making Shorts easier to watch.
Clear screen hides the clutter
The headline change is Clear screen, which hides the buttons and text sitting on top of a Short with one tap. It is meant for moments when the interface gets in the way of the video itself.
YouTube is also moving Shorts features, such as the audio track and related video links, into a swipeable carousel below the video title. That should make the player feel cleaner without removing those options entirely.
A new mute shortcut is coming too. Viewers can tap a Short to pause it, then tap the mute icon to silence the audio.
Shorts can now play at 2x speed
YouTube is adding a quick 2x playback control for Shorts. Instead of opening a settings menu, you can hold down the edge of the Shorts player to fast-forward the video at double speed, then lift your finger to return to normal.
There is also a lock option. YouTube says users can swipe down while pressing on the player to keep the whole Short running at 2x.
It is a small change, but it fits how Shorts are watched. People often skim short videos the same way they skim feeds, and speed control makes that behavior part of the player instead of a workaround.
It also matches Google’s wider push around short-form video tools, including YouTube Shorts-style AI editing in Google Photos.
The Dislike button is going away on Shorts
The most sensitive change is feedback. YouTube is replacing the thumbs-up button with a heart icon and retiring the Dislike button from Shorts.
That does not mean viewers lose all negative feedback options. Not interested, Don’t recommend this channel, and Report will remain in the three-dot menu. YouTube also says Not interested will let viewers give more specific reasons, so the feed can adjust better.
That feed-tuning angle also lines up with YouTube’s recent discovery experiments, including tests around Ask YouTube AI search.
For creators, historical Shorts Dislike data will stay available in YouTube Studio, but the count will stop updating for Shorts by the end of June 2026. Dislikes will continue to be reported as usual for long-form videos and Live.
This Shorts update is more practical than flashy. Clear screen and 2x playback will probably be easy wins for viewers. Removing Dislike from Shorts may be harder to sell, especially for users who saw it as the fastest way to tell YouTube what they did not want to watch.
