3 Ways to Hide Youtube Progress Bar And Make It Disappear

Ever found yourself asking, “How do I make the progress bar disappear on YouTube?”

We’ve all been there. Sometimes, the progress bar can be a little distracting when you’re trying to enjoy a video.

Luckily, there are a few ways to make it vanish and create a distraction-free viewing experience.

You might wonder, “Why won’t the progress bar go away on YouTube?”

Well, by design, the progress bar is there to help you navigate through the video. But it can also steal your focus, especially when you’re watching a captivating video or trying to concentrate on the content.

That’s where the idea of hiding the progress bar comes in handy.

Fun Fact #1: Did you know that YouTube started as a dating site? The original idea was for users to upload videos introducing themselves and stating what kind of partner they were looking for. However, the creators quickly realized that people were more interested in sharing all kinds of videos, so they pivoted to a video-sharing platform.

How To Make The YouTube Progress Bar Disappear and Go Away When Watching Videos

Here are the three (3) ways to do so.

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Method 1: Using a Browser Extension

Browser extensions can be a game-changer when it comes to customizing your online experience.

One such extension, Magic Actions, can help answer the question, “What is the shortcut to hide the bar on YouTube?”

Let’s explore how it works.

The Magic Actions Extension

Magic Actions is a browser extension available for both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

It comes with many features designed to enhance your YouTube experience, including the ability to hide the progress bar.

How to Install and Configure Magic Actions

• First, visit the Magic Actions website or search for it in your browser’s extension store.
• Install the extension by clicking “Add to Chrome” or “Add to Firefox,” depending on your browser.
• Once installed, you’ll see a new icon in your browser’s toolbar. Click on it to access the settings.
• Look for the “Hide Player Controls” option and enable it. This will automatically hide the progress bar along with other controls when you hover off the video player.

Now, you might ask, “How do I get rid of the bottom bar while watching YouTube?”

Well, Magic Actions is as simple as hovering off the video player, and the progress bar will disappear, providing you with a cleaner viewing experience.

Fun Fact #2: Did you know that YouTube's first video, "Me at the zoo," was uploaded by one of the co-founders, Jawed Karim, on April 23, 2005? This 18-second video features Jawed at the San Diego Zoo talking about elephants. Today, it has millions of views and is still available on the platform.

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Method 2: Fullscreen Mode and Auto-Hide

If you prefer not to use browser extensions, another simple solution can help you enjoy a distraction-free YouTube experience: fullscreen mode and auto-hide.

Enabling Fullscreen Mode

To enter fullscreen mode, follow these steps:

• Start playing a video on YouTube.
• Look for the fullscreen icon in the bottom-right corner of the video player. It looks like a square with two arrows pointing outward.
• Click on the icon, and the video will expand to fill your entire screen.

Taking Advantage of Auto-Hide

When you watch a video in fullscreen mode, YouTube automatically hides the progress bar and other controls after a few seconds of inactivity.

To bring them back, move your cursor. This auto-hide feature allows you to enjoy a cleaner, more immersive viewing experience without any additional effort.

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Method 3: Custom CSS for YouTube

For those who like to tinker with their browsing experience, you can hide the YouTube progress bar by using custom CSS.

This method requires a bit of technical know-how, but it’s an effective way to personalize your YouTube interface.

Accessing the Browser Developer Tools

You’ll need to access your browser’s developer tools to add custom CSS. Here’s how:

• Open YouTube and start playing a video.
• Right-click on the progress bar and select “Inspect” (Chrome) or “Inspect Element” (Firefox) to open the developer tools.
• Look for the “Styles” or “CSS” tab in the developer tools panel.

Adding Custom CSS to Hide the Progress Bar

Now that you have the developer tools open, follow these steps:

• Find the CSS selector for the YouTube progress bar. It should look something like .ytp-progress-bar-container.
• Add the following custom CSS to the “Styles” or “CSS” tab:

.ytp-progress-bar-container {
   display: none;
}

• The progress bar should now be hidden. Keep in mind that this change is temporary and will reset when you close the browser or navigate to a different site.

And there you have it! You now know three different ways to hide the YouTube progress bar for a distraction-free viewing experience.

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Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned three different ways to hide the YouTube progress bar, it’s time to choose the best method.

Whether you opt for a browser extension like Magic Actions, take advantage of fullscreen mode and auto-hide, or use custom CSS to personalize your experience, you’re sure to enjoy a cleaner, more immersive YouTube experience.

So, go ahead and bid farewell to that pesky progress bar! Immerse yourself in your favorite videos without any distractions and maximize your time on the platform.

Enjoy your new distraction-free YouTube experience and happy watching!

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