YouTube Shorts just fixed some of its biggest annoyances

• YouTube Shorts is getting a new clear screen mode that hides on-screen buttons and text, making videos less cluttered and easier to watch.
• Viewers can now watch Shorts twice as fast, helping them get through longer videos, tutorials, and demos more quickly.
• YouTube is also updating Shorts controls with tap-to-pause, quick mute options, a new heart icon, and more direct recommendation tools like “Not Interested” and “Don’t recommend this channel.”

A lot can happen in a YouTube Short — you might learn a recipe, pick up a tech tip, or watch someone recap an entire movie in under a minute. The problem is that the app itself can sometimes get in the way of the video. YouTube’s latest Shorts features are designed to address exactly that: make the viewing experience a little cleaner and a little faster.

That effort starts with what is arguably the most useful addition: clear screen mode. If you’ve ever felt that Shorts can be a little too busy, with captions, buttons, profile icons, and other controls competing for attention, this feature should help. It temporarily hides the interface, leaving the video front and center. It’s a simple change, but one that makes a lot of sense, especially for videos that pack every inch of the screen with information.