How to completely remove YouTube from Xiaomi Redmi: from blackout to deep cleanup

The YouTube app on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is often a source of annoyance: it takes up space in memory, consumes traffic in the background and does not allow itself to be deleted by standard methods. Even after clicking “Delete” in the app menu, it disappears only until the next MIUI update or reboot. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods from simple disabling to completely erasing system files, including methods for devices with an unlocked bootloader and without root rights.

Redmi's feature is that YouTube can be both a custom app (installed via Google Play) and a system app (stitched into MIUI firmware). In the first case, it takes 30 seconds to delete, in the second case, additional tools are required. We tested all methods on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Redmi 10 and POCO X5 Pro models with the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 - instructions are relevant for 2026.

1. Check the type of installation of YouTube: system or user?

Before you start deleting, determine which type of YouTube is installed on your Redmi. This is critical: the type of method depends on the method you choose.

Open Settings → Apps → App Management and find YouTube in the list. Notice two key features:

• 📥 Custom app: there is a button “Delete” (do not “Disable”), the version is updated via Google Play, the size of the apc is usually 30-80 MB.
• 🔧 System application: the Remove button is missing or replaced with Disable, the version is not updated through the store, the size can reach 100+ MB.

If you have a custom version, go to Section 2. If you have a system version, read on from Section 3. Some MIUI firmware may have a combination of both types installed — first delete the user version, then the system version.

2. Delete the user version of YouTube (without root)

This is the simplest case. The user app is removed like any other, but with nuances for Xiaomi:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find YouTube on the list and tap it.
3. Click on “Delete” (if the button is active).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

If the Remove button is inactive or missing, try an alternative method:

• 🛒 Delete via Google Play: Open a store, search YouTube, click Delete».
• 🧹 Use the settings. → Warehouse → Free up space and mark YouTube in the list to delete.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI After deleting the user version of YouTube, it can automatically recover the next system update. MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Auto-update.

3. disable the system YouTube without root (the safest method)

If YouTube is sewn into the firmware, it is impossible to completely remove it without the superuser rights, but you can turn it off so that it does not interfere with:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → YouTube.
2. Click "Disable" (the button can be hidden under the «⋮» top-corner).
3. Confirm the disconnection in the dialog window.
4. Reboot the phone.

After the shutdown:

• 🔄 The app will disappear from the menu and launcher.
• 📵 Background activity will stop (battery and traffic savings).
• 🔄 Updates via Google Play are blocked.

The downside is that YouTube will remain on the system and will take up space (usually 50-150 MB). To free up memory, use the methods in the following sections.

💡

If YouTube continues to appear in search by phone after the shutdown, clear the launcher cache: Settings → Applications → MIUI Launcher → Storage → Clear the cache.

4.Remove the system YouTube via ADB (without root, but with PC)

The method requires Redmi to connect to a computer, but does not require root rights, and is suitable for most MIUI 12-15 models.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Utilities. ADB Fastboot (download from the official website).
• 🔓 Included debugging by USB phone-on.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI to unlock Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Enable USB debugging and confirm permission.
2. Connect your phone to your PC: Use high-quality cable (cheap cables may not transmit data). Choose file transfer mode (MTP) when you connect.
3. Run ADB: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.youtube If the team didn't work, try the alternative: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.youtube
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Note 11 Pro)+) After the uninstall command, YouTube may recover from the Google Play Services update. To avoid this, block the auto-update of Google services in Settings → Annexes → Google Play Services → ⋮ → Turn off auto-update.

5. Complete removal of YouTube with root rights (for experienced)

If you have a bootloader unlocked and you have Magisk or another root manager installed, you can physically delete all YouTube files from the system.This method irreversibly erases the app, including its updates and cache, but requires caution.

Tools required:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (instructions for Xiaomi here).
• 🛡️ Installed by Magisk or SuperSU.
• 📱 File Manager with root access (e.g. Root Explorer or Mixplorer).

Instructions:

1. Open the root manager and go to /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore or /system/app/YouTube (the path may vary depending on the firmware).
2. Find files with names: YouTube.apk com.google.android.youtube-1.apk Cache folders (lib, odex)

.bak

/data/data/com.google.android.youtube


/data/app/com.google.android.youtube-1

Reboot the phone.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Full vacancy (up to 200 MB).
• ✅ No risk of recovery after updates.
• ✅ Ability to remove related services (e.g. YouTube Music).

Risks:

• ❌ Loss of warranty (if the bootloader is unlocked).
• ❌ There may be a disruption to other Google services.
• ❌ When negligent actions – the “brick” of the phone.

Alternative methods: concealment, replacement, restriction

If removal seems risky, consider alternative options:

• 👁️ Hiding the icon: Use launchers like Nova Launcher or Hyperion, where you can hide apps without deleting them. MIUI Hiding is available through long-term click on the icon → «Take it off the screen» → «Hide».
• 🔄 Alternatives: Install NewPipe (lightweight YouTube client without ads) or Vanced (if available for your model).
• 🚫 Access Restriction: In Settings → Annexes → YouTube → Permissions disable access to microphone, camera, location and background activity.
• 📵 Traffic Blocking: C Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data → Apps to turn off mobile traffic and Wi-Fi for YouTube.

💡

If you only want music from YouTube, use YouTube Music (you can turn it off separately) or third-party apps like Snaptube – they allow you to download tracks without advertising or background activity.

For users who want to keep the functionality, but reduce the load on the system, a combination of:

1. Turn off YouTube auto-update in Google Play.
2. Limit background activity in battery settings (Settings → Battery → App selection → YouTube → Limit background activity).
3. Use Greenify (requires root) to force hibernation of the app.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing YouTube on Xiaomi Redmi