How to completely disable YouTube on Xiaomi: from smartphone to Smart TV

YouTube is pre-installed on most Xiaomi devices, from Redmi smartphones and POCO before Mi TVs TV. For many users, this is convenient, but there are situations when the service needs to be disabled or removed: Parental control, traffic savings, combating video addiction or trivial memory release.Problem is that standard deletion is often blocked by the system – especially on TVs where YouTube is integrated at the firmware level.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at all the working ways to disable YouTube on Xiaomi devices, including:

• 📱 Smartphones (MIUI 12–14, Android 10–14)
• 📺 Televisions (Mi) TV, Redmi Smart TV, Xiaomi TV A/A Pro)
• 🔧 Technical bypasses (without root, root, through) ADB)
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Parental control (time limit, password)

Each method has been tested on current models (2022-2026) and adapted to the latest firmware. If you need to permanently remove YouTube from your Xiaomi TV without the possibility of recovery, this is also the case (see the section on the website). ADB).

1. disable YouTube on Xiaomi smartphones (without root)

On Redmi smartphones, POCO or Xiaomi with a shell MIUI You can't delete a pre-installed YouTube, it blocks the uninstallation, but there are 4 alternative ways to limit it:

Method 1: Disconnecting through application settings

The easiest method is to freeze the app so it doesn’t start or update:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find YouTube on the list and tap it.
3. Select Disable (or Remove Updates if the Disable button is inactive).
4. Confirm the action – the application will disappear from the menu and stop working.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F5, Redmi Note 12 may reappear after YouTube shutdown after update MIUI. To avoid this, block automatic app updates on Google Play. → Settings → Auto-update of applications.

Method 2: Hiding through the launcher

If you just need to remove the YouTube icon from the home screen, but leave the option to run through search:

• 📌 Press the YouTube icon on your desktop.
• 🗑️ Drag it to the top of the screen (it will appear to say Delete or Hide).
• 🔍 To return – find the application through a search system (Swipe down the screen) → Search).

💡

On smartphones Xiaomi with MIUI 14 can hide apps in 'Secret Album': Gallery → Albums. → Secret album → Add apps. It'll hide YouTube from even search!

Method 3: Limitation through Digital Wellbeing

If the goal is to limit the time you use YouTube (for example, for a child):

1. Go to → Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls.
2. Select the Control Panel → YouTube.
3. Set a time limit or block the app overnight.

🔹 Plus method: you can set a password for changes in settings.

🔹 YouTube will remain on the system and will consume background resources.

2. Complete removal of YouTube from Xiaomi smartphone (with root)

If you are ready to get root rights, you can delete YouTube at the system level, including all its components (Google Play services, cache, updates), this is true for users who want to free up memory or completely get rid of Google services.

Step 1: Getting root rights

This will require:

• 📱 Unlocked bootloader (instructions for Xiaomi: official website).
• 🖥️ Magisk utility (download from GitHub).
• 🔧 Custom recovery (TWRP Or OrangeFox).

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader will reset all data on the phone! also this can lead to loss of warranty (some Xiaomi models check the status of the bootloader during repairs).

Step 2: Delete YouTube through the ADB or a root explorer

After receiving root, do:

adb shell


su




pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.youtube




pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.apps.youtube.music # deletes YouTube Music




pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.apps.youtube.kids # deletes YouTube Kids

Alternatively, you can use a root-access file manager (such as Root Explorer) and manually delete files:

• 📁 /system/priv-app/YouTube/
• 📁 /data/app/com.google.android.youtube-*/

Step 3: Blocking Updates

To prevent YouTube from recovering from the Google Play update:

1. Install App Quarantine (from Magisk).
2. Add com.google.android.youtube to the blacklist.
3. Turn off automatic updates in Google Play → Settings.

3. disable YouTube on Xiaomi TVs (Mi) TV, Redmi TV)

On Xiaomi TVs, YouTube is integrated into PatchWall firmware, so standard deletion is not possible. However, there are 5 workarounds:

Method 1: Reset to factory settings (radical method)

This will delete all pre-installed apps, including YouTube, but also erase all user data:

1. Go to Settings → Device → Reset and Update → Reset settings.
2. Enter. PIN-code (default 0000 or 1234).
3. Confirm the reset, the TV will reboot.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi TVs TV A Pro 2023 and newer YouTube can recover after first connecting to the Internet (due to cloud sync).To avoid this, do not connect to Wi-Fi immediately after resetting.

Method 2: Blocking through parental control

If the goal is to restrict access for children:

• 🔒 Go to Settings. → Parental control.
• 🔑 Install. PIN-code (remember it!).
• 📵 Select App Restriction and block YouTube.

🔹 Plus: No technical skills required.

🔹 YouTube will remain on the system and will be visible in the menu (but will require) PIN launch).

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (without root)

This method hides YouTube from the menu, but doesn't remove it completely. ADB:

1. Turn on the debugging. USB on TV: Settings → The device → Special facilities → For developers → Debugging by USB.
2. Connect the TV to your PC via USB (or Wi-Fi if supported).
3. Follow the command: adb shell pm hide com.google.android.youtube

To return YouTube, use:

adb shell pm unhide com.google.android.youtube

Method 4: Replacement of the launcher (for advanced)

On Xiaomi TVs, you can install a launcher side (for example, ATV Launcher or Wolf Launcher, which will hide unnecessary applications:

1. Download. APK launcher USB-accumulator.
2. Connect the flash drive to the TV and install the application through the File Manager.
3. In the launcher settings, hide YouTube.

🔹 Not all launchers support Xiaomi TVs on Android TV. Check compatibility on forums before installing (e.g., check compatibility, 4PDA).

Method 5: Physically Shutting Down the Internet for YouTube

If you only need to block YouTube, but leave access to other services:

• 🌐 Go to Settings. → The Internet and the Internet → Router.
• 🔗 Find it. MAC-TV address (in connection information).
• 🚫 Set up a router to block the domains youtube.com, googlevideo.com for this MAC-address.

🔹 Alternative: Use the NetGuard app (requires root) to block Internet access for YouTube.

4. Comparison of methods: which to choose?

The choice of method depends on your purpose and technical capabilities. Below is a table with a comparison of all methods:

💡

For most users, the best option is to disconnect through settings (smartphones) or parental control (televisions). ADB Only experienced users who are prepared for potential risks.

5. Frequent problems and solutions

You can have a lot of trouble when you turn off YouTube on Xiaomi, and let's look at the typical errors and fix them:

Problem 1: YouTube is back after the update MIUI

🔹 Reason: The system automatically restores pre-installed applications.

🔹 Decision:

• 📵 Turn off automatic updates in Google Play.
• 🔧 Use it. ADB For permanent concealment: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.youtube

Problem 2: The debugging of the USB TV-wise

🔹 Reason: On some models (Mi) TV P1, Redmi Smart TV X) Developer option hidden.

🔹 Decision:

1. Go to Settings. → On TV.
2. Click 7 times on the build number (you become a developer message will appear).
3. Back to Settings → Special features – there will be a section for developers.

Problem 3: Other Google services have stopped working after YouTube was removed

🔹 YouTube is linked to Google Play Services, and its removal could disrupt Gmail, Google Maps or the Play Market.

🔹 Decision:

• 🔄 Restore YouTube via Titanium Backup (if there is a backup).
• 📥 Reinstall Google Play Services manually (download) APK APKMirror).

Problem 4: There is no “Disable” option for YouTube

🔹 Reason: On Mi TV PatchWall firmware some system applications cannot be disabled by standard means.

🔹 Solution: Use ADB (see section 3) or set the sides of the launcher.

6. YouTube Alternatives on Xiaomi

If you have disabled YouTube due to advertising, restrictions, or slow speed, consider alternative services:

🔹 How to identify alternatives?

• On your smartphone: download APK from the official website (e.g. NewPipe) and install manually.
• On TV: use it ADB or Send Files to TV transmit APK.

adb install smarttubenext.apk

Download APK: website.-->

7. Conclusion: Which method to choose?

So let's summarize:

• 👶 For parents: Use parental controls or Digital Wellbeing – it’s safe and doesn’t require technical skills.
• 📱 For smartphones: if you do not need YouTube at all – turn it off in the settings or delete it through ADB (rootless).
• 📺 For TVs: The Most Reliable Way — ADB-Pm hide command or launcher replacement.
• 🔧 For experienced users: root + Complete removal is a radical but effective method.

If you need to permanently remove YouTube from your Xiaomi TV without the possibility of recovery, combine it. ADB and block updates via NetGuard or router settings.

Remember: on Xiaomi devices with Google Mobile Services (GMS) Deleting YouTube completely can cause other Google services to fail, always backup before major changes!

FAQ: Frequent questions