Why is the standard YouTube deletion on Xiaomi not working?
You've tried to remove YouTube from a Xiaomi phone, but instead of the "Delete" button, the app menu only shows "Disable"? This is not a bug, but a feature of the MIUI firmware. The fact is that on most Redmi, POCO and Black Shark devices, the app is pre-installed as a system app — it's embroidered into the firmware and is protected from simple removal. Even if you downloaded YouTube separately from Google Play, its "root" version remains on the system.
Standard disabling through settings (Settings → Applications → Application Management → YouTube → Disable) only hides the icon and stops background processes, but does not free up disk space. Moreover, after resetting or updating MIUI, the application can automatically recover – this is confirmed by users of Xiaomi 12T, Redmi Note 11 Pro + and other models of 2022-2026. In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, including removal without root rights and using ADB.
Method 1: Disable YouTube via MIUI settings (without deletion)
If you just have to hide the app and stop it, it's the fastest method, it doesn't require any additional tools, and it's suitable for all versions of MIUI (12 to 15). Importantly, once you shut down, YouTube will stop receiving updates through Google Play, but its data (cache, settings) will remain in the device's memory.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open Settings and go to the Application section.
- 🔍 In the search bar, type "YouTube" or scroll through the list to the All Apps section.
- ⚙️ Click on YouTube, then select Disable (if the button is inactive, first click Stop).
- ✅ Confirm the action in the dialog box by clicking Disable the application.
What happens after the shutdown:
- ✔️ YouTube icon will disappear from the main screen and from the app menu.
- ✔️ Background processes (such as notifications) will be stopped.
- ❌ The disk space will not be freed up – the application files will remain in the system.
- ❌ When resetting settings or updating MIUI YouTube may be coming back again.
⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, POCO F5 Pro) when YouTube is disabled, related features, such as the built-in video player in the Gallery, may disappear. MIUI Uses YouTube components to play some formats.
Method 2: Remove YouTube Updates (Free Space)
If you can't remove the app itself, but you want to make room, remove the updates. This method works even if YouTube is embedded in firmware. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro, the basic version of YouTube weighs ~50 MB, and with updates it weighs up to 300 MB.
How to remove updates:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → YouTube.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Remove Updates.
- Confirm the action. The app will return to the factory version.
What this does:
- 📉 Released until 200-250 MB of memory (depends on the phone model).
- 🔄 YouTube will stop automatically updating through Google Play.
- 🔙 To return the updates, just open YouTube – the system will offer to update it.
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If the Remove Updates button is inactive, try to turn off YouTube (Method 1) first, then return it and try again.
Method 3: Delete YouTube via ADB (without root)
To completely remove the system YouTube without obtaining root rights, you will need ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on all Xiaomi devices with bootloader unlocked and USB debugging enabled, the advantage is that all the content of the application, including cache and data, is deleted.
Step-by-step:
- 🖥️ Install. ADB-computer-driver (Windows/macOS/Linux).
- 📱 Turn it on on the phone: 🔧 Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to activate the developer mode). 🔌 Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
File transfer
adb devices(The name of your device should appear)
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtubeWhat do flags in a team mean:
| Flag. | Description |
|---|---|
| -k | Stores cache and app data (if you want to delete everything, remove this flag). |
| --user 0 | Remove the application only for the current user (does not affect other accounts on the device). |
| com.google.android.youtube | YouTube Package Identifier (unique for all Android devices) |
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (For example, Xiaomi.eu after deleting YouTube via ADB You may experience errors in Google services. Before you execute a command, back up your data via Settings. → System system → Backup.
Install ADB on PC|Enable developer mode on Xiaomi|Activate debugging over USB|Connect phone in file transfer mode |Making backup of data-->
Method 4: Complete removal with root rights
If your Xiaomi has unlocked the bootloader and installed Magisk or another root manager, you can remove YouTube as a regular app, which is suitable for advanced users, as it requires modification of system files.
Instructions:
- 📲 Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Root Explorer). FX File Explorer).
- 🔍 Cross the path: /system/priv-app/YouTube/ or /system/app/YouTube/ (depending on the version MIUI).
- 🗑️ Delete the YouTube folder or rename it (for example, in the YouTube_bak).
- 🔄 Reboot the phone.
Alternative method (via Magisk):
- 📦 Install App Systemizer or Debloater from Magisk repository.
- 🔍 Find it in the YouTube list and mark it for deletion.
- 🔄 Reset the device.
Advantages of the method:
- 🧹 Delete all YouTube files, including system libraries.
- 🚫 The app will not recover after the update MIUI.
- 📱 It works on all models: from Redmi 9A Xiaomi 14 Pro.
What happens if you delete YouTube on a rooted Xiaomi?
Method 5: Using third-party uninstallers
If you don’t want to mess with ADB or root, you can use specialized applications to remove system programs.
| Annex | Need root? | Features |
|---|---|---|
| App Inspector | ❌ No. | Shows hidden system applications, but does not remove them without ADB. |
| System App Remover | ✅ Yes. | Complete removal with backup. Supports recovery. |
| Debloater (XDA) | ❌ No, but you do. ADB) | Remove applications through ADB-automatic. |
| Universal Android Debloater | ❌ No. | Works through GUI-interface, supports packet removal. |
Recommendations for use:
- 🛡️ Before deleting, back up through Settings → System system → Backup or Titanium Backup (for root).
- 🔍 Check packet names carefully – removing the wrong application can cause the system to crash.
- 🔄 After deleting, restart your phone so that the changes take effect.
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Third-party uninstallers are convenient but risky: some contain ads or collect data.Before using, check reviews on 4PDA or XDA Developers.
What if YouTube has recovered after the MIUI update?
Many Xiaomi users are faced with the fact that after updating the firmware, remote system applications (including YouTube) reappear, this is because MIUI automatically restores the standard set of programs.
Option 1: Reverse the MIUI Update
- 📥 Download the previous firmware version for your model from en.miui.com.
- 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Select a firmware file.
- 🔄 Install the old version (the data will not be erased).
Option 2: Block the YouTube Update
- 🛡️ Install App Blocker or Island (for root devices).
- 🔒 Add YouTube to the blacklist for updates.
- 📵 Turn off auto-update in Google Play: Open YouTube → three-point → Turn off auto-update.
Option 3: Use an alternative launcher
If YouTube is back but you don’t want to see it:
- 🎨 Install a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair).
- 🔍 In the launcher settings to hide the YouTube icon.
- 🔕 Disable the application through settings (Method 1).