How to remove YouTube from Xiaomi TV: 4 ways to do it

The built-in YouTube app on Xiaomi TVs is often a source of annoyance: it takes up space on the menu, updates without demand, and can slow down the system. Unlike smartphones, where apps are deleted in two clicks, on Mi TV or Redmi Smart TV, this process is complicated by the manufacturer. Why? Because YouTube is pre-installed at the firmware level as a system application, and it cannot be uninstalled by standard methods.

This article will cover all possible ways from simple shutdown to complete removal via ADB, including nuances for different models (Mi TV 4A, 4S, 5 Pro, Redmi X50, etc.) and how to disable automatic YouTube returns after software updates, which is especially true for owners of Android TVs 9/10/11.

Why YouTube can’t be removed in the standard way

Xiaomi TVs are based on Android TV, a modified version of Android optimized for larger screens, and YouTube is classified as a system app that:

• 🔒 Installed in a protected memory section (/system/app or /system/priv-app).
• 🔄 Restore after resetting settings or updating the firmware.
• 🛡️ Blocked from removal without superuser rights (root).

Even if you find the "Delete" button in the app menu, it will be inactive or replaced with "Disable" -- not a whim from Xiaomi, but a requirement from Google: to certify devices on Android TV, manufacturers must include key services, including YouTube, Google Play Movies and Chrome.

⚠️ Attention: Removing system apps can cause your TV to run unstable, especially if you use Google Assistant or Chromecast features.Before experimenting, back up your settings in the Settings menu → System system → Backup.

Interesting fact: on some models of Xiaomi TV (for example, Mi TV Q1E 2023) YouTube is integrated even deeper – its icon is fixed on the home screen and is not deleted even through ADB. In such cases, only disabling updates or replacing the launcher will help.

Method 1: Disable YouTube through Settings (without deleting)

If you don’t have to completely remove the app, but just hide it and stop the background, it’s the safest method.It works on all Xiaomi TV models and doesn’t require technical skills.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings (cog in the upper right corner of the main screen).
2. Go to the Apps (or All Apps) section.
3. Find it on the YouTube list (could be called com.google.android.youtube.tv).
4. Select Disable (if the button is inactive, click Stop first).
5. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

After that:

• 📴 YouTube icon will disappear from the main screen.
• 🔄 The application will not be updated automatically.
• 🎯 Free up to 100-150 MB of RAM.

⚠️ Note: After resetting the TV to factory settings or updating the firmware, YouTube may be activated again. To avoid this, disable automatic app updates in Settings → Annexes → Google Play settings.

If there is no “unplug” button, then there are additional restrictions on your Xiaomi TV model, in which case move on to the next method.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (for advanced users)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is an Android debugging tool that lets you execute commands directly through your computer, and you can delete YouTube completely, but you need to:

• 💻 Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original from Xiaomi).
• 📥 Installed drivers ADB and utility.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging mode on your TV: Go to Settings → About TV. Find the build number and click on it 7 times in a row until the notification "You became a developer" appears. Go back to Settings → For developers and activate debugging over USB.
2. Connect your TV to your computer: Use the USB 3.0 port (usually blue) for a stable connection. The TV will see a request for debugging permission - confirm it.
3. Install ADB (if not already installed): # For Windows (via PowerShell) winget install Google.AndroidSDKPlatformTools For macOS/Linux (via Terminal) brew install android-platform-tools # macOS sudo apt install adb fastboot # Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)
4. Follow the commands to delete YouTube: adb devices # Connection check (serial number must be displayed) adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube.tv # Delete for current user Or for complete removal (requires root): pm uninstall com.google.android.youtube.tv

If the team is successful, YouTube will be removed, but there are nuances:

⚠️ Note: On new models (Mi) TV Q1E Xiaomi is blocking some teams ADB, In this case, only disabling updates (see Method 3) or installing custom firmware (risky) will help!).

1. Enable Wireless Debugging in Settings → For Developers.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi from your computer: Adb pair IP_Address: port adb connect IP_address

This will save you from problems with drivers. USB.-->

Method 3: Disable YouTube Updates via Google Play Settings

Even if you disable or delete YouTube, it can return after the firmware update. To avoid this, block the app's automatic update via Google Play:

1. Open the Google Play Store on your TV.
2. Find YouTube in search.
3. Press three points (⋮) corner of the application page.
4. Uncheck the auto update box.

If this item is not available, do the following:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Google Play Store → Warehouse.
• 🗑️ Click Clear Data and Clear Cache.
• 🔄 Restart the TV.

This won’t delete YouTube, but it will prevent it from returning spontaneously after a reset or update.

adb shell settings put global auto_sync 0

Method 4: Reset the TV to factory settings (last resort)

If the previous methods didn't work, and YouTube gets in the way so much that you're willing to sacrifice all the settings, a complete reset can help.

• 🔄 All installed apps and accounts will be deleted.
• 📺 Reset the settings of the image, sound and network.
• ⚠️ Some models will still have YouTube (but you can turn it off again).

How to reset Xiaomi TV:

1. Go to Settings → System → Reset.
2. Select Reset to factory settings.
3. Enter. PIN-code (by default 0000 or 1234 if you have not changed it).
4. Confirm the action.

After the reboot:

• 🚫 Do not connect to a Google account immediately – first disable YouTube (see Method 1).
• 🔌 Do not update your firmware if you do not want to return YouTube.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi TVs with Android TV 11+ (Like Mi. TV Q2 2026) Reset may not help - YouTube will recover from the cloud. ADB-teams from Method 2.

💡

Factory reset is not a panacea: On new Xiaomi TV models, system applications (including YouTube) are restored from a backup in the cloud. To avoid this, turn off sync with Google in your account settings before reset.

Alternative solutions: replacement of the launcher and blocking via the router

If you can’t delete YouTube, but you want to get rid of its icons and ads, consider these options:

Installation of an alternative launcher

The launcher is the shell that controls the main screen, and you can install third-party launchers on Android TV, for example:

• ATV Launcher is a minimalist interface without ads.
• HalLauncher supports customization of icons.
• Leanback Launcher is a standard launcher from Google, but without unnecessary widgets.

How to determine:

1. Download. APK-flash-file.
2. Connect the flash drive to the TV and open through the File Manager.
3. Install the application by allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings → Security).
4. Launch the launcher and select it as the main one in Settings → Applications → Default Launcher.

2.Block YouTube via router

If you want to block access to YouTube for all devices on the network (for example, children), set up filtering on the router:

• 🌐 Go to the router control panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
• 🔒 Find Parental Controls or Filtration URL.
• 📝 Add to the blacklist domains: youtube.com googlevideo.com ytimg.com
• 🔄 Save settings and restart the router.

It won't delete the app, but it will render it inoperable.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you try to delete YouTube, users often face problems, and here are the most common solutions:

If none of these methods worked, there may be additional restrictions on your Xiaomi TV model, leaving you with two options:

1. Just turn off the app (Method 1).
2. Install custom firmware (such as LineageOS for TV), but it is risky and lacks warranty.

💡

Before experimenting with ADB or firmware, check the TV model in documents or on the sticker at the back. Some commands only work on certain chipsets (such as Amlogic or MediaTek).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions