Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones come pre-installed with a set of software often called bloatware, and among these applications is the popular video hosting, which is integrated into the operating system by default, and many users are faced with the desire to free up internal memory or simply remove unnecessary icons from the desktop to minimize the interface.
However, standard Android tools can not remove the system application completely, you can only turn it off or hide the shortcut. Full removal requires a deeper knowledge of the structure of the file system or the use of special debugging tools. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods, from simple settings to advanced technical solutions.
It is important to understand that any interference with system components requires caution. Mistakes can lead to instability of the MIUI or HyperOS shell. We will discuss in detail the safe algorithms of actions that will help you achieve your goal without risk to the device.
Why YouTube can’t be removed in the standard way
The reason is the Android security architecture, where apps that were installed by the device’s manufacturer before it was sold are marked as system applications, and the operating system blocks their removal through the standard settings interface to prevent accidental damage to critical features.
When you try to remove such an application with a regular (long-press) or through the settings menu, the delete button is either missing or inactive. This is protection from the user, who may not be aware of the consequences of removing system components.
But there are ways to get around this limitation, and they fall into two types: secure deactivation and forced deletion via a computer, the first one being reversible and not root-rights, and the second one being more radical.
⚠️ Note: Before performing any actions to remove system applications, we strongly advise you to create a full backup of data, since interference with the system partition carries risks.
Users often confuse the ability to remove app updates with the removal of the program itself.Reset to the factory version frees up space occupied by updates, but does not remove the underlying app apk file from the system.
Method of disabling the application through smartphone settings
The safest and easiest way to get rid of an intrusive application is to force it to stop and shut down, in which case the program stops working in the background, does not consume battery power and does not appear in the list of running processes.
To perform this procedure, you do not need to connect to your computer or install additional software. All actions are performed directly on the screen of your Redmi or Xiaomi.
Follow the step-by-step instructions:
- 📱 Open the settings menu of your device and find the "Apps" section».
- 🔍 In the list of all programs, find “YouTube” and click on it to enter the control menu.
- 🛑 Click the “Disable” (or “Off”) button by confirming the action in the pop-up window.
- 🗑️ If the system offers to remove updates before disabling, agree to this action.
After these steps, the app icon will disappear from the desktop and from the menu of all programs. The video hosting functionality will become unavailable until you turn the app back on in the settings.
⚠️ Disabling a system application does not free up space in the System Applications section, it only hides it and stops processes.
This is ideal for those who want to just get the extra out of sight and not worry about the stability of the system, and if you want to get it back, just go back to the settings and click the "Enable" button.
Complete removal via ADB without Root rights
For those who want to vacate space completely, there is a method of using the ADB debugging bridge (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to transfer commands directly to the operating system, bypassing the standard interface constraints.
You will need a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux), USB-Root rights (superuser rights) are not required for this method, making it relatively safe when following the instructions.
The preparation process is as follows:
- 💻 Download and install drivers for Xiaomi and platform SDK Platform-Tools on the computer.
- ⚙️ On the phone, activate the developer mode: go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on the version MIUI.
- 🔌 In the menu "For developers" include the items "Debugging by USB» and “Debugging by USB (Security settings)».
- 🖥️ Connect your phone to your PC and allow debugging in the pop-up window on your smartphone screen.
Once connected, open the command line in the ADB folder and type in the adb device command to make sure the computer sees the device. If the serial number appears in the list, you can proceed to deletion.
The following command is used to remove YouTube:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtubeThis command removes the application only for the current user (user 0), without affecting the system partition recovery, which allows you to return the application factory reset if necessary.
⚠️ Warning: Enter commands carefully. Removing critical system packages (non-YouTube) can lead to a bootloop (cyclic reboot) of the device.
If the command is successful, the terminal will receive a message "Success", and the application will disappear from the system completely, freeing up the previously occupied space.
☑️ Preparation for removal through ADB
Use of third-party utilities for removal
If working with the command line seems too difficult or risky, there are graphical shells for ADB. One of the most popular and proven programs is Universal Android Debloater.
This utility automatically detects the connected device and shows a list of all installed packets. The program interface allows you to safely remove applications with one click, marking them as safe to remove.
Advantages of using such programs:
- 🖱️ No need to remember complex commands and package names.
- ✅ The program often marks safe to remove system applications in green.
- 🔄 Ability to restore a remote application directly from the program interface.
To work with Universal Android Debloater, you still need to enable USB debugging on your phone, as described in the previous section. Once connected, the program will download the list of packages itself.
Search com.google.android.youtube and click the delete button, and the program will generate and send the required command to the device, which makes the process much easier for inexperienced users.
What is the com.google.android.youtube package?
Comparison of methods: disabling or deleting
The choice between simply disabling and completely removing depends on your goals and level of training, and each method has its own advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before starting the procedure.
The table below provides a detailed comparison of the two main approaches to solving the problem:
| Parameter | Disconnection in settings | Removal via ADB |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Low (2-3 clicks) | Medium (needs PC and setup) |
| Liberation of the place | Partial (data and updates only) | Complete (Basic APK removed) |
| Security | Absolutely safe. | It requires caution. |
| Return of the annex | Instant (via settings) | Requires reconnection to the PC or reset |
If your goal is simply to not see the extra icon and stop the background activity, the shutdown method is enough to ensure that the system remains in a factory state.
If you’re struggling for every megabyte of internal memory or want to completely clear Google’s services, then using ADB is the only effective solution without flashing your device.
💡
Before removing system applications via ADB, write down the names of the packets that are being removed, which will help you quickly restore the system in case of unforeseen errors.
Possible problems and solutions
There may be technical difficulties in the removal process, most often with drivers, access rights or features of a particular version of MIUI.
One of the common problems is that the computer can't see the phone in debugging mode. USB-Cable to the original or use another cable USB-port, preferably USB 2.0.
There may also be a Failure [not installed for 0] error when you try to delete, which means that the application has already been removed for the current user or the batch name is incorrect.
If widgets or other applications that depend on Google services stop working after YouTube is deleted, the best solution is to reset to factory settings or restore a deleted package with a command:
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.youtubeThis command will return the system application to its place if it was removed via ADB for the current user.
💡
Using the install-existing command allows you to restore a remote system application without losing data and completely reflashing the smartphone.