See less of what pulls you in
Blur thumbnails and the video, cover Search images, and keep a clear strip at the bottom when you need useful information.
A more intentional layer for YouTube
VidVeil Watch with intention.
VidVeil helps you watch YouTube with intention. Built for those who have TAQWA, it softens thumbnails and the moving video, hides feeds you do not need, follows one selected person locally when you choose Smart follow, and keeps titles, captions, and controls available.
Available now from the official Chrome Web Store.
Your settings stay in your browser
YouTube still works
No account needed
VidVeil overview
See how VidVeil helps you watch with intention.
Loading the video…
This device only
Player settings
Your player preferences stay on this device.
How VidVeil works
Make YouTube easier to focus on without giving up what you need.
Choose how much you want to see, reveal a video when you are ready, and keep your session on track. VidVeil gives you a quieter way to use YouTube without taking away the useful parts.
Reveal one video at a time
Show a video when you choose it, instead of bringing every image back at once.
Finish what you came for
Use a timer, an optional daily limit, and A/B looping to keep your viewing focused.
Visual calm
See what you need. Hide what distracts you.
You choose how strong the blur feels. VidVeil starts with 80 px thumbnail blur, 80 px player blur, and a 19% clear strip at the bottom of the video. Adjust them whenever you like.
- Control thumbnail blur and video blur separately.
- Keep Search useful while hiding its images.
- Reveal only the video you have chosen.
- Keep a small lower part of the video clear when it contains helpful information.
- Drag around one person for a lighter local blur; Smart follow uses the browser’s native detector when available or VidVeil’s bundled YuNet/ONNX Runtime WASM detector locally, while Fixed area stays model-free.
- Hide Shorts when you want to avoid short-form browsing.
You stay in control: titles, details, playback controls, captions, and links remain available.
Separate thumbnail and player protection, then reveal the part you need.
What to hide
Keep the useful parts. Hide the rabbit holes.
Turn down recommendations, Shorts, and other prompts that make it easy to keep browsing. Pick the controls that fit the moment—there is no one rigid mode.
- Search without the images when you want the useful text without the visual pull.
- Shorts when you choose, rather than an always-on browsing loop.
- Reveal one video at a time while keeping the rest of the page quieter.
- Keep titles, details, links, captions, and normal playback controls.
Keep search and titles useful while reducing the visual pull of recommendations.
Focus timers & time awareness
Make time for what you came to watch.
A simple timer and an optional daily limit help you notice when a short session is becoming a long one. Use the reminder to finish, continue briefly, or step away.
- Start a 25-minute, 50-minute, or custom session.
- Set a daily limit when you want one.
- See simple time totals on your own device.
- Review or remove those totals whenever you like.
Set a focus timer alongside the visual controls, with summaries kept on this device.
A/B looping
Practice a passage without scrubbing back.
Mark where a passage starts and ends, then let VidVeil repeat it for you. It is useful for lectures, languages, demonstrations, recitation, and any moment you want to hear or see again.
Want looping on another website? VidVeil asks for access only when you choose that site. YouTube looping works without this extra step.
A/B loopRepeat a precise learning range
02:1403:46
Privacy-first design
Your settings stay on your device.
VidVeil does not need a sign-in or a VidVeil account. Your settings, loop choices, video reveals, and time totals stay in your browser. Read the full policy for the details.
✓Usage history does not store titles, channel names, search terms, watched URLs, cookies, credentials, comments, or messages.
✓The pages you visit are left out of diagnostics by default.
✓Incognito usage is not recorded by the tracker.
✓Usage data can be exported or cleared from the extension.
Product preview
A more intentional YouTube, at a glance.
These previews show the controls you can use while keeping YouTube familiar and usable.
Visual calmThumbnail + player controls
Adjust the blur, reveal one video, and keep a clear strip when useful.
Quick controlsChrome Web Store tile
Smart followLocal person blur
FAQ
A few useful details before you install.
Will I still be able to use YouTube normally?
Yes. Titles, details, links, captions, and playback controls stay available. VidVeil simply gives you more say over the visual distractions around them.
How does Smart follow work?
After you select an area, Smart follow uses the browser’s native face detector when available. Otherwise VidVeil runs its bundled YuNet/ONNX Runtime WASM detector locally on a small crop near the selected subject. Fixed area remains model-free for boards, slides, and text; video frames never leave your device.
Does VidVeil keep a record of what I watch?
No. VidVeil keeps simple time totals, but not video titles, channel names, searches, watched links, cookies, credentials, comments, or messages.
Can I loop videos outside YouTube?
Yes, on supported websites after you choose that site and approve access. YouTube looping does not need this extra permission.
Do I need to create an account?
No. VidVeil works without a VidVeil account. Your settings and time totals stay in your browser.
Is VidVeil affiliated with YouTube or Google?
No affiliation or endorsement is claimed. VidVeil is an independent browser extension intended to help users shape their own viewing environment.
VidVeil for Chrome
Watch with intention.
VidVeil is now available on the Chrome Web Store. Add it to Chrome and make YouTube easier to focus on in a few clicks.
No account is required, and your usage summaries stay in your browser.