How to Create a Custom YouTube Feed with Shortcuts (and Ditch the Algorithm)

If you are tired of the YouTube algorithm dictating what you watch, you can take back control. Using a simple Apple Shortcut, you can pull the latest long-form videos from your favorite channels and compile them into a clean, daily digest in Apple Notes. By the end of this guide, you will have a custom, distraction-free feed ready to go.

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What you will need

Before getting started, make sure you have a few things ready on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac:

• The built-in Shortcuts app.
• The Today's YouTube Videos shortcut installed on your device.
• A free web tool called NewsKeeper to grab the background links for your favorite channels.

Step 1: Understand how the daily digest works

The shortcut is designed to skip the algorithm entirely. You can automate it to run once a day. Setting it to run at 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM is a great way to catch up on the day's uploads.

When the shortcut runs, it grabs the latest videos from your curated list of channels. It pulls the video thumbnail, the title, and the creator's name. It then generates a brand new note in your Apple Notes app with a direct link to watch each video.

You get to see exactly what is new without getting sucked into a feed of recommended content.

Step 2: Grab the RSS feeds for your favorite channels

The shortcut uses RSS feeds to pull in video data. YouTube does not make these easy to find, but you can generate them quickly using a third-party site.

1. Open your browser and go to newskeeper.io.
2. Type the full channel URL or the creator's handle into the search bar. For example, you can type @mkbhd.
3. Click the Search button.
4. NewsKeeper will generate a list of specific RSS feeds for that channel. You can choose to pull all videos, just long-form videos, Shorts, live streams, or even specific playlists.
5. Click Copy URL next to the feed you want to include in your digest.

Step 3: Add the channels to your shortcut

Now that you have your RSS feed link, you just need to drop it into your shortcut.

1. Open the Today's YouTube Videos shortcut in your Shortcuts app.
2. Locate the Text block near the top of the shortcut. This is where all your channel feeds live.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the list inside that text block. You can also highlight and delete all the default links if you want to start completely from scratch.
4. Paste your copied RSS feed onto a brand new line.
5. Tap Done to save your changes.

You are all set

Your custom YouTube feed is now ready. You can repeat the process to add as many channels as you like. Every time the shortcut runs, you will get a perfectly organized Apple Note with the videos you actually care about. Enjoy your algorithm-free viewing.

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