YouTube Rolls Out Revamped Search: New Filters and Feed Customization

YouTube has updated the interface and logic behind its search filters. The key change is the ability to search separately for standard videos and Shorts, simplifying navigation between different content formats.

Previously, Shorts and long-form videos appeared together in search results, which could be frustrating when looking for a specific format. Now, the "Type" menu offers "Video" or "Shorts" options to narrow results immediately. Developers have also renamed the "Sort by" menu to "Priority." It features a new "Popular" filter, replacing the old "By view count" option. The algorithm considers not just view numbers but other signals, like watch time, to determine a clip's relevant popularity for a specific query.

As part of streamlining the interface, YouTube has removed two filters: "Sort by rating" and "Upload date — Last hour." The company noted these options were performing suboptimally and had drawn user complaints. The ability to search for videos uploaded within a specific period (day, week, month) remains in a separate "Upload date" filter.

The update has already been rolled out to all platform users. The changes aim to make search more predictable and user-friendly, allowing for more precise discovery within YouTube's vast library. Recall that recent reports indicated a significant portion of content recommended to new YouTube users might fall under the so-called "brainrot content" category.