How to Remove the Annoying Sidebar on YouTube: A Comprehensive Guide

YouTube, the world’s largest video-sharing platform, is a treasure trove of information, entertainment, and creativity. However, the ever-present sidebar, with its suggestions, playlists, and other elements, can sometimes feel intrusive, distracting, and even detrimental to a focused viewing experience. If you’ve ever wished for a cleaner, more minimalist YouTube interface, you’re not alone. Many users seek ways to get rid of the sidebar and enjoy videos uninterrupted. Thankfully, there are several methods to achieve this, ranging from simple browser settings to more advanced extensions and user scripts. This comprehensive guide will walk you through each method, offering detailed steps and instructions to banish the YouTube sidebar for good.

Why Remove the YouTube Sidebar?

Before we delve into the ‘how,’ let’s understand why you might want to remove the YouTube sidebar in the first place. Several reasons contribute to this desire:

• Reduced Distraction: The sidebar constantly presents suggested videos, often related but sometimes irrelevant, diverting your attention from the video you’re currently watching. This distraction can hinder focus and enjoyment.
• Improved Focus and Immersion: Removing the sidebar creates a more minimalist and immersive viewing experience, allowing you to fully engage with the content.
• Cleaner Aesthetics: Many users simply prefer the look of a cleaner screen without the clutter of the sidebar. It allows the video content to take center stage.
• Avoiding Temptation: The suggested videos on the sidebar can easily lead to a rabbit hole of endless browsing, preventing you from completing your intended viewing task.
• Personal Preference: Ultimately, the desire to remove the sidebar often boils down to personal preference for a specific browsing experience.

Methods to Remove the YouTube Sidebar

Now, let’s explore the various ways to remove the YouTube sidebar. We’ll cover methods that range from simple to more complex, catering to users of all technical skill levels:

Method 1: The ‘Theater Mode’ Built-in Option

YouTube offers a basic built-in feature called ‘Theater Mode,’ which while not removing the sidebar entirely, dramatically minimizes its impact and gives a more focused view.

Steps:

1. Open a YouTube video: Navigate to the video you wish to watch.
2. Locate the ‘Theater Mode’ button: Under the video player, you’ll see several buttons, including a square icon with inward-pointing arrows (or a rectangle icon if viewing on mobile). This is the ‘Theater Mode’ button.
3. Click the ‘Theater Mode’ button: Clicking this button will expand the video player to take up most of your browser window, moving the sidebar to the right of the player and reducing its visibility. The chat panel, if active, will also get pushed down.

Pros:

• Easy to use: No technical skills are required.
• Built-in: No extensions or third-party tools are needed.
• Quick solution: Can be implemented with a single click.

Cons:

• Doesn’t fully remove the sidebar: The sidebar remains visible, albeit reduced in size.
• May not be enough for those seeking complete sidebar removal: If you desire a completely clean screen, this method will not suffice.

Method 2: Using Browser Extensions

Browser extensions are a popular way to customize web pages, including YouTube. Several extensions specifically target the YouTube sidebar, allowing you to completely hide it or alter its appearance. Here are some of the most effective extensions:

1. Enhancer for YouTube™

Enhancer for YouTube™ is a powerful extension for various browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc) that offers a myriad of customization options, including sidebar removal. It’s not just about removing elements; it’s about enhancing your entire YouTube experience.

Installation:

1. Open your browser’s extension store: Navigate to the Chrome Web Store (for Chrome), Firefox Add-ons (for Firefox), or your browser’s equivalent.
2. Search for ‘Enhancer for YouTube™’: Use the search bar to find the extension.
3. Install the extension: Click ‘Add to Chrome’ (or similar for your browser) and confirm the installation.

Configuration for Sidebar Removal:

1. Open YouTube: Visit the YouTube website.
2. Access the Extension Settings: You’ll see a small extension icon in the browser’s toolbar or inside the YouTube page. Click it.
3. Navigate to the ‘Layout’ tab (or similar): Inside the extension’s settings, you will see different customization options. Select the one related to layout or appearance.
4. Find the ‘Hide Sidebar’ option: Enable the setting to hide the sidebar. The exact name may vary depending on the version of the extension, but typically involves an option like ‘Hide Sidebar,’ ‘Disable Suggestions,’ or something similar.
5. Refresh YouTube: Refresh the YouTube page or open a new video. The sidebar should now be gone.

Pros:

• Complete sidebar removal: Effectively hides the sidebar, giving you a distraction-free viewing space.
• Highly customizable: Offers various other customization options to enhance your YouTube experience beyond sidebar removal.
• Regularly updated: The extension is usually kept up-to-date to work with YouTube’s updates.

Cons:

• Requires extension installation: Requires installing a third-party browser extension.
• Potential for conflict: May conflict with other extensions, requiring some experimentation if you use multiple extensions.
• Security Considerations: Ensure that any extension you install comes from a trusted source. Always read the user reviews before installing a new extension.

2. YouTube Full Screen for YouTube

This is another popular extension aimed at simplifying the YouTube interface by removing the sidebar completely. It focuses primarily on improving the full-screen experience, but also allows for the removal of the sidebar when not in fullscreen mode. It is available for many browsers such as Chrome and Firefox.

Installation:

1. Open your browser’s extension store: Navigate to the Chrome Web Store (for Chrome), Firefox Add-ons (for Firefox), or your browser’s equivalent.
2. Search for ‘YouTube Full Screen for YouTube’: Use the search bar to find the extension.
3. Install the extension: Click ‘Add to Chrome’ (or similar for your browser) and confirm the installation.

Configuration for Sidebar Removal:

1. Open YouTube: Visit the YouTube website.
2. Access the Extension Settings: Typically, the changes are applied automatically after installation, and you may not need to adjust the settings, but if there is an icon click on it.
3. Enable Sidebar removal: If needed, there may be a setting to enable sidebar removal. Enable it, and you might need to refresh the YouTube page.

Pros:

• Simple and focused: Specifically designed to improve full-screen and remove sidebar.
• Easy to use: Often requires no complex setup or configuration.
• Reliable: Known for consistent performance in hiding the sidebar.

Cons:

• Less customizable: Does not offer as many options as more feature-rich extensions like Enhancer for YouTube.
• Potential for Conflict: Might conflict with other extensions, so be mindful of that.

3. Magic Actions for YouTube™

Magic Actions for YouTube™ is yet another option. Similar to ‘Enhancer for YouTube™’, it offers a range of features to customize your YouTube experience, and sidebar removal is one of them.

Installation:

1. Open your browser’s extension store: Navigate to the Chrome Web Store (for Chrome), Firefox Add-ons (for Firefox), or your browser’s equivalent.
2. Search for ‘Magic Actions for YouTube™’: Use the search bar to find the extension.
3. Install the extension: Click ‘Add to Chrome’ (or similar for your browser) and confirm the installation.

Configuration for Sidebar Removal:

1. Open YouTube: Visit the YouTube website.
2. Access the Extension Settings: Find the extension icon in the browser’s toolbar or inside the Youtube page, and click it.
3. Navigate to the ‘Layout’ or ‘Interface’ tab: In the extension settings, find the tab related to layout or interface.
4. Enable sidebar removal: Activate the setting related to hiding the sidebar or related videos.
5. Refresh YouTube: Reload the page. The sidebar will now be removed.

Pros:

• Feature-rich: Provides many options for customizing your YouTube experience.
• Effective sidebar removal: Hides the sidebar thoroughly.
• Highly rated: Is a well-established and trusted extension.

Cons:

• Complexity: Its many features can be overwhelming for some users.
• Potential for conflicts: Might clash with other browser extensions.

Method 3: Using User Scripts with Tampermonkey or Greasemonkey

User scripts are small programs written in JavaScript that can alter the behavior and appearance of websites, like YouTube. To run user scripts, you’ll need a user script manager like Tampermonkey (for Chrome, Safari, Opera, and Edge) or Greasemonkey (for Firefox). This is a more advanced method but provides more precise control over YouTube’s interface. Note, however, that some people might feel this is a riskier method if they are not familiar with the subject.

1. Install Tampermonkey or Greasemonkey:

First, you need to install the user script manager in your browser:

For Chrome, Safari, Opera, and Edge:

1. Visit the Chrome Web Store (or the appropriate extension store for your browser): Search for ‘Tampermonkey’.
2. Install the extension: Add it to your browser.

For Firefox:

1. Visit the Firefox Add-ons page: Search for ‘Greasemonkey’.
2. Install the add-on: Add it to Firefox.

2. Find a User Script to Remove the Sidebar

Next, you need to find a user script that specifically targets the YouTube sidebar. You can find these scripts on user script repositories, such as Greasy Fork or OpenUserJS. Look for scripts that are recently updated and well-rated, which may come under a title like “Hide YouTube Sidebar,” “Minimal YouTube Interface,” or similar. Make sure to choose a script that specifically targets sidebar removal, rather than a script that does other things as well. Some user scripts may contain malicious code so it is important to take extra care before using them.

3. Install the User Script:

1. Visit the user script page: Open the page of the script you wish to use.
2. Click the ‘Install’ button: This will typically prompt Tampermonkey or Greasemonkey to install the script.
3. Confirm the installation: Confirm the installation in your user script manager.

4. Verify the Script

1. Visit YouTube: Open YouTube, and the sidebar should be gone, depending on the user script you installed.

Pros:

• Highly customizable: User scripts can be finely tuned to achieve specific modifications, allowing for a highly personalized interface.
• Lightweight: Often less resource-intensive than full-fledged browser extensions.
• Free: User scripts are typically freely available on the user script repositories.

Cons:

• Requires technical knowledge: Requires knowledge on how to find and install user scripts.
• Potential security risks: User scripts may have malicious codes if not downloaded from a trusted source.
• Maintenance: User scripts might need updates to remain compatible with YouTube’s changes.

Method 4: Using Custom CSS

This is the most advanced and requires you to have at least a working knowledge of the use of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). It involves injecting your own custom CSS code to hide elements in the YouTube page. Note that CSS styles might need constant maintenance because YouTube often updates their styling and structure.

1. Install a Custom CSS Extension:

You can install extensions for this purpose like:

• Stylus: Works with Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
• Custom CSS: Is available for Chrome

The steps to install them are very similar to installing the browser extensions mentioned in the previous steps.

2. Inject the Custom CSS code:

1. Visit YouTube: Open YouTube.
2. Open the Custom CSS extension: Click on the custom CSS extension that you installed
3. Add a new style: It might be required that you select add a new style or a new sheet, or similar.
4. Copy and paste the code: In order to hide the sidebar, you’ll need to input some lines of CSS code, usually by pasting them into a textbox within the extension interface. Below is a sample of the type of code that you might need to use. Please note that sometimes this code may require maintenance to work because YouTube may change its style or structure.

/* Hide the sidebar */
#secondary {
    display: none !important;
}


/* Adjust the main content width, if necessary */
#primary {
    width: 100% !important;
}

3. Save the changes:

1. Save and enable: Ensure the style is saved and enabled to take effect on YouTube.
2. Verify: Refresh the Youtube page and see if the sidebar has disappeared.

Pros:

• Lightweight and precise: Very lightweight, with specific styling and a high degree of control.
• Very Custom: As you can write the code yourself, the CSS styles will be very specific to your particular needs.

Cons:

• Advanced technical knowledge: It requires an in-depth knowledge of CSS and DOM structure.
• Maintenance: CSS styles might require constant maintenance to keep working due to YouTube style changes.

Conclusion

Removing the YouTube sidebar can significantly enhance your viewing experience, minimizing distractions and allowing you to focus solely on the content. Whether you opt for the simplicity of ‘Theater Mode,’ the convenience of browser extensions, the flexibility of user scripts, or the precision of custom CSS, several methods are available to suit various technical skill levels and preferences. Experiment with these techniques and find the one that best fits your needs to create a cleaner, more focused YouTube experience.

Remember to keep your extensions and user scripts updated to ensure compatibility with YouTube. By implementing these tips, you can reclaim your viewing space and truly enjoy the wealth of content that YouTube has to offer.