Why it's a strong pick

RYS goes after the parts of YouTube built to keep you watching, and leaves the rest alone. You can still search, learn and watch. The core features are free and need no account. It is open source under the MPL-2.0 license, so its code is public on GitHub.

What it does

RYS changes the YouTube interface. It removes the feeds and suggestions that pull you from one video to the next. You pick what to hide in its settings, so you can keep the parts you find useful and drop the rest.

Key features

Hide suggestions. Remove homepage suggestions, sidebar recommendations and end-of-video suggestions.
Deal with Shorts. Hide Shorts, or redirect them to the normal video player.
Hide comments and search suggestions. Fewer things to click on.
Optional premium settings. Autoplay control, homepage redirects, scheduling, a settings lock and more. Signing in without paying unlocks 2 of them.
Open source. MPL-2.0, with the code on GitHub.

Who it's for

RYS suits students and workers who lose time to YouTube but still need it for learning. If you want to block YouTube, or other sites, completely during work hours, use LeechBlock NG instead.

Good to know

RYS works on YouTube only, and only in the browser where it is installed, so the YouTube app on your phone still shows suggestions. If friends send you Shorts links, choose “redirect Shorts to the normal player” instead of hiding them, so the links still open. Scheduling is a premium setting. If you want free blocking by time of day, pair RYS with LeechBlock NG.

How do I remove YouTube recommendations in Chrome?

Install RYS: Remove YouTube Suggestions from the Chrome Web Store. It hides the homepage feed, the sidebar recommendations and the suggestions at the end of each video. Search and the video you opened keep working. You choose what to hide in its settings. The core features are free and need no account.

Can RYS block YouTube Shorts?

Yes. RYS can hide Shorts from YouTube, or redirect a Short to the normal video player so it plays like any other video. The second option helps if people send you Shorts links but you don’t want the endless swipe feed. Both options are part of the free features.

Is Remove YouTube Suggestions safe?

RYS is open source under MPL-2.0, so its code is public on GitHub and can be checked. The free features work without an account. You only sign in if you want the optional premium settings. As with any extension, read the permissions on the Chrome Web Store listing before you install.

Other distraction blockers to compare

RYS is one of 5 picks in our website and distraction blockers guide, which compares them side by side and explains how to choose. The other picks:

LeechBlock NG: Blocks any site on a schedule or after a time limit.
News Feed Eradicator: Replaces social media feeds with a quote.
uBlacklist: Hides the sites you choose from search results.
Fokuser: A simple focus timer that blocks the sites you list while it runs, with data kept on your device. Open source. A very new, small project.