How to permanently remove YouTube from Xiaomi Redmi phone: from simple to complex

Why is YouTube so hard to remove from Xiaomi Redmi?

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi smartphones often face a problem: the YouTube application cannot be removed in the standard way through the “Delete” menu. The fact is that on most Redmi models (especially with Android-based MIUI firmware), this application is classified as system or preinstalled. The manufacturer integrates it into the shell for the convenience of users, but does not always provide the possibility of complete removal.

But there are workarounds, from simple shutdowns to deep removals via ADBs or even flashing, and in this article we’ll go through all the working methods, including the nuances for different MIUI versions (Redmi Note 10 to Redmi 12). It’s important to understand that some methods require super-user rights or technical knowledge, but we’ll start with the safest options.

Before you start, check:

• 📱 Your Redmi model (like Redmi) 9A Or the Redmi Note 11 Pro.+) — This depends on the availability of certain methods.
• 🔄 Version MIUI (find out in Settings → New versions (e.g., telephone, MIUI 14) may block part of the instructions.
• 🔒 bootloader status: On some models, it is locked by default (checked through fastboot oem device-info).

If you're not sure about your abilities, start with the first three methods, which don't require root rights and don't pose a risk to the system. More radical methods, such as ADB removal, are described at the end of the article with warnings about the possible consequences.

Method 1: Turn off YouTube without deleting (the safest)

If you don't have to completely erase the app, but just hide it and stop background activity, use the built-in shutdown function. This won't delete YouTube files, but:

• 🚫 The app will disappear from the menu and search.
• 🔄 It will stop updating through Google Play.
• 📵 No battery or traffic in the background.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search box, enter YouTube.
3. Click on the app, then select Disable (or Remove Updates if the Disable button is inactive).
4. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (for example, MIUI 13 for the Redmi Note 10S) The "Disable" button may be blocked, in which case, try to delete the updates first and then disable them.

💡

If YouTube continues to appear in search results after disabling, clear the cache and data of the Google Play Store app (Settings → Apps → Google Play Store → Storage → Clear cache / data).

Method 2: Remove updates and reset to factory version

YouTube on Xiaomi Redmi is often divided into two parts:

1. System version – preinstalled shell MIUI (usually old, with minimal functionality).
2. Updates via Google Play are a fresh version that takes up space and consumes resources.

To return the application to the "factory" state:

1. Go to Settings → Apps → YouTube → Storage.
2. Click Remove Updates (if the button is active).
3. Then select Clear the cache and Clear the data.
4. Return to the main menu of the application and click Disable (now the button should become active).

After that:

• 📦 The size of the application will decrease with ~100MB to ~10–20 MB.
• 🔒 Functionality will be limited (for example, there will be no support for YouTube Premium or the latest features).
• 🔄 Google Play will no longer automatically update YouTube.

Method 3: Delete via launcher or hide icons

If you are disturbed only by the YouTube icon on the home screen, but the application itself can be left in the system, use one of these methods:

To completely remove the icon from the search and app menu, you’ll need to disable YouTube (method 1) or use ADB (method 4). Third-party launchers are a good compromise if you don’t want to interfere with system files.

💡

Hiding an icon does not free up space on your phone or stop YouTube background processes. Use disabling (method 1) or removing updates (method 2) to stop completely.

Method 4: Delete YouTube via ADB (for power users)

If previous methods didn’t work and you don’t have root rights, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android through your computer, which allows you to completely remove YouTube updates or even the system version (on some firmware), but you need to be careful.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then in Settings → Additionally. → For developers to enable debugging).
• 🛠 Utility. ADB (Download from the official Android website).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Redmi to your computer and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and go to the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. To remove YouTube updates, follow: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube If you need a complete uninstallation (does not work on all firmware): adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.youtube
5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention:

• On some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 with MIUI 13), deleting the entire service via ADB may cause errors in the work of Google services (e.g., account synchronization will disappear).
• If other apps (e.g. Google Play Store) have stopped working after YouTube is deleted, restore it via the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.youtube

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|Enable debugging on USB phone-on|Download ADB and unpack into a separate folder|Connect your phone to the original cable|Check the connection with the team `adb devices`-->

Method 5: Complete root-right removal (extreme method)

If you are willing to take drastic measures and have root access (e.g., through Magisk), you can delete YouTube permanently, including system files.

• 🔧 Can work with root and restore the system after failures.
• 📲 Ready for possible problems with Google Play Services.
• 🔄 have a backup of data (for example, through TWRP).

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Click on /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore/ or /system/app/YouTube/ (the exact path depends on the version of MIUI).
3. Delete the folders: YouTube and/or files with names: com.google.android.youtube.apk com.google.android.youtube.odex
4. Clear the cache and data through Settings → Apps → YouTube (if the app is still displayed).
5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: After such removal:

• Some features of the Google Play Store may not work properly.
• System Updates (MIUI) can restore YouTube.
• To recover, you will need to reflash your phone or manually install YouTube.apk.

If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to use method 4 (ADB) or disable YouTube without deleting (method 1). Complete removal of system applications can lead to loss of warranty and unstable operation of the phone.

What if YouTube is back after the MIUI update?

Many Xiaomi Redmi users are faced with the fact that after updating the firmware MIUI YouTube again appears in the system.

• 🔄 Update MIUI Restores a standard set of applications.
• 📦 Google Play Services automatically installs the latest version of YouTube if it was removed incorrectly.

How to prevent return:

1. Turn off automatic app updates in Google Play Store → Settings → Auto-Update apps → Never.
2. Freeze YouTube with apps like Titanium Backup (requires root) or App Quarantine.
3. Delete your Google account (last resort): Settings → Accounts → Google → Delete your account. This will stop syncing but will deprive you of access to other services (such as Gmail or Google Drive).
4. Use alternative firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) that does not have YouTube preinstalled.

If YouTube is coming back, try a combination of methods:

1. Remove updates via ADB (Method 4).
2. Disable the application (mode 1).
3. Hide the icon through the launcher (mode 3).

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing YouTube from Xiaomi Redmi