Flip the switch and watch the scroll go
This is a drawing of a video site. Try it.
On YouTube
Shorts, the home feed, suggested videos, autoplay and, if you like, comments.
On Instagram
Reels, Explore, the home feed and stories.
Still there
Search, subscriptions, playlists, messages and profiles.
See where your time goes
Unreel counts your time on YouTube and Instagram, and only on this computer. Nothing is ever sent anywhere.
Screen time
See today's total and your last seven days in one chart.
Daily limits
Give each site a budget. When it's used, the site makes way for a reminder until midnight.
Block hours
Block during class or work, and leave your evenings alone.
Install it in four easy steps
Unreel isn't on the Chrome Web Store yet, so you add it yourself. It takes about two minutes.
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Unzip it
Mac: double-click the zip.
Windows: right-click it, then choose Extract All.Move the new unreel folder to Documents and keep it there. Unreel stops working if the folder is moved or deleted.
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Open Chrome's extensions page
Copy this, paste it into the address bar and press Enter:
chrome://extensionsThen turn on Developer mode at the top right.
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Add the folder
Click Load unpacked at the top left, then choose your unreel folder. Unreel is now on.
You're done
Open YouTube and the Shorts are gone.
To keep Unreel handy, click the puzzle piece next to the address bar, then the pin beside Unreel. Click its icon any time to see your screen time, change what's hidden or set limits.
Open YouTubeIf something goes wrong
Chrome says "Manifest file is missing"
You chose the wrong folder. Open the unreel folder and check that manifest.json sits directly inside it, then choose that exact folder. If you see the file called unreel.zip, unzip it first.
Developer mode is greyed out or missing
Your school or workplace probably manages this browser, and only its admin can allow this. Try Unreel on a personal Chrome profile or your own computer.
Unreel disappeared or shows an error
The folder was probably moved or deleted. Put it back in the same place and click the reload icon on Unreel's card. If you load it from a new place instead, Chrome treats it as a new extension, so you'll need to set your choices and hours again.
A hidden thing has come back
YouTube and Instagram change their pages often, which can break what Unreel hides. Check for a newer version, or report it on GitHub.
Why is my screen time different from my phone's?
Unreel only counts YouTube and Instagram in this Chrome, while they're on your screen. It stops counting after a minute with no activity, unless a video is playing.
How do I update Unreel?
Chrome can't update it for you while it's installed this way. Download the new zip, replace everything in your unreel folder with the new files, then click the reload icon on Unreel's card in chrome://extensions. See all versions.
Is it safe to install this way?
Developer mode lets Chrome run extensions that didn't come from its store, so only load ones you trust. Unreel has no account, runs only on YouTube and Instagram, and sends nothing anywhere, including your screen time. All the code is public, and so is the privacy policy.
How do I remove it?
Click Remove on Unreel's card in chrome://extensions, then delete the folder.