YouTube is updating its search filters to enable users to select Shorts or long-form videos exclusively, add a Popularity option, remove ineffective filters, and rename the sorting menu, addressing user complaints and improving utility.
Currently, YouTube searches display a combination of long-form videos and Shorts, which frustrates users seeking a single format. The updated filters introduce a choice between “Videos,” displaying only long-form content, and “Shorts,” showing short-form videos alone. Testing confirms that selecting “Videos” excludes Shorts entirely, while “Shorts” limits results to that format.
YouTube is eliminating the “Upload Date – Last Hour” filter and the “Sort by Rating” option. The company states these “were not working as expected and had contributed to user complaints.” Remaining Upload Date filters include “Today,” “This week,” “This Month,” and “This Year,” preserving options for recent content discovery.
The new “Popularity” filter replaces the previous “View count” sort. YouTube explains that the “Popularity” filter employs a video’s view count combined with other relevance signals, such as watch time, to rank results for a given query. This approach determines popularity tailored to specific searches.
YouTube has renamed the “Sort By” menu in search filters to “Prioritize.” The company indicates that “this refined sorting menu aims to maximize utility,” aligning the label more closely with its function of emphasizing relevant sorting criteria.
