Hide video recommendations from listing and remove annoying auto-mix playlists to reduce lag and improve performance
# LiteTube
A lightweight Tampermonkey script that optimizes YouTube performance by removing clutter and reducing bandwidth usage. It was designed to remove video listing cards while watching a video and remove auto-mix URLs by doing a cleanup reload.
## Features
- **Removes Video Recommendations** - Completely hides the sidebar on watch pages while keeping homepage content intact
- **Blocks YouTube Auto-Mix Playlists** - Automatically detects and removes auto-generated mix playlists (RD*) by reloading the page with clean URLs
- **Preserves User Playlists** - Your personal playlists and other users' playlists continue to work normally
- **Removes Bloat** - Eliminates gaming shelves, promoted content, banner ads, and other unnecessary elements
- **Reduces Lag** - Minimizes DOM elements and prevents unnecessary data loading for smoother playback
- **Lower Bandwidth** - Decreases data consumption by blocking redundant content from loading
- **Keeps End-Screen Cards** - Preserves video suggestions that appear at the end of videos
## What Gets Removed
- Video recommendation sidebars (watch page only)
- YouTube's auto-generated music mixes (reloads page without mix parameters)
- Gaming content shelves
- Promoted videos and advertisements
- Statement banners and promotional content
- Playlist panels for auto-mixes
## What Stays
- Homepage video cards and recommendations
- Your personal playlists
- Other users' playlists
- End-screen video suggestions
- Comments and descriptions
- Normal video functionality
## Installation
### Prerequisites
You need a userscript manager extension installed in your browser:
- **Chrome/Edge/Brave**: [Tampermonkey](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/tampermonkey/dhdgffkkebhmkfjojnmoofnbnafgjabi)
- **Firefox**: [Tampermonkey](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tampermonkey/) or [Greasemonkey](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/greasemonkey/)
- **Safari**: [Tampermonkey](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tampermonkey/id1482490089)
### Steps
1. Install Tampermonkey from the links above
2. Click on the Tampermonkey icon in your browser toolbar
3. Select "Create a new script"
4. Delete the default code
5. Copy and paste the LiteTube script
6. Press `Ctrl+S` (or `Cmd+S` on Mac) to save
7. Visit YouTube and enjoy a cleaner, faster experience
### Alternative: Direct Install
If the script is hosted on a userscript repository:
1. Click the install link
2. Tampermonkey will open with the script
3. Click "Install"
## Usage
Once installed, the script runs automatically on YouTube. Simply navigate to any YouTube video and you'll notice:
- Clean watch page without recommendation sidebar
- Auto-mix playlists are instantly removed (page reloads without mix parameters)
- Videos play as standalone content with normal end-screen suggestions
- Homepage remains functional with all video cards visible
## How It Works
LiteTube works by:
1. **Detecting auto-mix URLs** - Checks if the current URL contains YouTube's auto-generated mix parameters (`list=RD*`, `start_radio`)
2. **Reloading with clean URL** - Immediately reloads the page with those parameters removed, preventing auto-mix from initializing
3. **Hiding sidebar elements** - Removes the recommendation sidebar and related DOM elements on watch pages
4. **Removing bloat** - Continuously monitors and removes promotional content and gaming shelves
This approach ensures YouTube treats the video as standalone content, showing normal end-screen suggestions instead of auto-playing the next track in a generated mix.
## Compatibility
- Works on all major browsers with Tampermonkey
- Compatible with YouTube's current layout
- Tested on YouTube.com
- Does not interfere with user-created playlists or normal YouTube features
## Version
**v2.8.4**
## Author
Liminality Dreams
## License
GNU General Public License v3.0
