YouTube Updates Search Filters to Distinguish Shorts and Longform Videos
January 8, 2026
Image illustrating YouTube’s new search filters options.
Jay Peters reports that YouTube is rolling out new search filter options aimed at improving user experience by allowing more precise searches for Shorts and longform videos. Previously, searches without filters displayed a mix of both types, which could be inconvenient. Now, users can select specific categories: “Videos” for longform content and “Shorts” for short videos, offering a streamlined viewing experience.
In addition to these new filters, YouTube is removing outdated options like “Upload Date - Last Hour” and “Sort by Rating,” citing issues with functionality and user feedback. However, alternative date filters remain, including “Today,” “This week,” “This month,” and “This year.”
The platform introduces a new “Popularity” filter, replacing the “View count” sort, which evaluates videos based on view counts and relevance signals such as watch time to determine their popularity per search query.
Furthermore, the “Sort By” menu has been renamed “Prioritize” to better reflect its aim of enhancing utility through refined sorting options. Users can follow topics and authors to receive personalized updates via their homepage and email notifications.