How to completely remove YouTube from Xiaomi Redmi phone: from disabling to uninstalling system APKs

Why YouTube is so hard to remove from Xiaomi Redmi and what to do about it

You’re trying to make room on Xiaomi Redmi, but standard YouTube removal through the app menu doesn’t work? MIUI At the system component level, even after clicking "Delete" in Settings. → You just turn off the updates and you APK-The file remains in the device memory, taking up to 150-200 MB and background consumption of resources.

Complicating the problem, Xiaomi partnered with Google to pre-install key services (including YouTube) on all Google Mobile Services (GMS) certified devices, which means that even after being completely removed, the app can automatically recover after a MIUI update or reset, but there are workarounds ranging from simple disconnection to deep cleaning through ADB or TWRP.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, from the safest (without loss of warranty) to radical (requires unlocking the bootloader). Each method is tested on the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and the flagship Redmi K50 with MIUI 13/14.

Method 1: Disable YouTube without removing (without root)

If you just have to hide an app and stop it from working in the background, it's the fastest method. APK-File, but stops all YouTube processes and removes it from the menu.

1. Disable the app: Go to Settings → Apps → App Management, find YouTube and click “Disable.” This will remove all updates and return the app to the factory version (usually 17.36.35 or older).
2. Freeze via MIUI Optimized: In the same app settings, tap Battery → Background Restriction → select Forbidden. This blocks autostart and notifications.
3. Hide the icon: Hold your finger on the YouTube icon on the home screen and drag it to the shopping cart that appears (or to the Hidden Apps folder if you use MIUI Launcher).

✅ Pros: does not require superuser rights, reversibly, does not affect the warranty.

❌ Cons: APK-file remains in memory (/system/priv-app/YouTube), till 100 MB.

Method 2: Remove updates and reset to factory version

If YouTube has been updated through Google Play, it can be rolled back to a minimum version that weighs 5-10 times less (about 20-30 MB), a method that is suitable for devices where YouTube is not a system application (for example, on some Redmi models for the European market).

• 📱 Step 1. Open the Settings. → Annexes → YouTube → Three points (⋮) → Remove updates.
• 🔄 Step 2.Reboot your phone - this will reset the app cache.
• 🚫 Step 3. In Google Play settings, add YouTube to the “Do not update automatically” list (Settings) → Network settings → Auto-update of applications → YouTube → Not update).

Important! After resetting to the factory version, some features may not work correctly (for example, YouTube Premium or YouTube Music in one app), and some high-resolution videos (1080p+) may not play due to outdated codec.

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If YouTube asks to update each time it launches after a rollback, install an alternative client, such as NewPipe (available on F-Droid), which is lighter (only 15MB) and has no ads.

Method 3: Remove via ADB (without root but with PC)

For users willing to connect Redmi to a computer, there is a way to uninstall YouTube via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This does not require superuser rights, but will require enabling USB Debugging and installing drivers.

Warning: Incorrect ADB commands may disrupt the system. Follow the instructions exactly!

1. Preparation: Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack it into a folder C:\adb. Put it on your phone: ⚙️ Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (slip 7 Time to activate Developer Mode). 🔌 Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.

Connection:

Connect Redmi from your PC via USB, select File Transfer mode and enter in the command line (Win + R → cmd):

adb devices

If the device is displayed (e.g., 1234abcd device), enter:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube

Check:

Reboot your phone. YouTube has to disappear from the menu. To get it back, you just need to install an app from Google Play.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 11 Pro+) YouTube protected by flag INSTALLER_PACKAGE_NAME=com.miui.systemAdSolution. ADB-The team will return the Failure error. [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR]. The solution is to use the method 4 (root).

Method 4: Complete removal via TWRP (requires unlocking the bootloader)

This is the most radical method that permanently removes YouTube from the system partition, suitable for advanced users, because it requires:

• 🔓 Unlocking the bootloader (Bootloader Unlock).
• 📱 Custom recaveri installations TWRP.
• 🛠️ Persistent backup and system partitions.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader: Follow the official instructions of Xiaomi (requires an account binding Mi and waits 7-14 days). Once unlocked, install TWRP via fastboot flash recovery twrp.img.
2. Delete APK: In TWRP, go to Advanced → File Manager and find: /system/priv-app/YouTube/YouTube.apk /system/app/YouTube/YouTube.apk (if any) /data/app/com.google.android.youtube-* (residual files)

Delete these files and folders, then run Wipe → Dalvik Cache.

Prohibit restoration:

Edit the file. /system/etc/sysconfig/google_build.prop, Removing ro.com.google.gmsversion=... (This will prevent YouTube from automatically restoring when you update. MIUI).

⚠️ Attention: Removal of system APK through TWRP It can lead to soft-brick (cyclical reboot) if you delete dependent libraries.Always check files through ldd before deleting.For example, YouTube may depend on libyuv.so or libmediandk.so, which are used by other applications.

Method 5: Using Magisk and the Universal YouTube Uninstaller

If you already have root rights (via Magisk), the safest way to remove YouTube is to use a dedicated module.

• 🧹 Remove the application without risking damage to the system.
• 🔄 Restore it in one click if necessary.
• 🔒 Block Automatic Update.

Instructions:

1. Install Universal YouTube Uninstaller via Magisk Manager.
2. Restart your phone and YouTube will be deleted.
3. To return the app, simply deactivate the module in Magisk and restart.

✅ Advantage: the module not only removes APK, It also cleans the associated services (com.google.android.apps.youtube.music, com.google.android.youtube.tv) that may remain in the system.

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Magisk is the only way to remove YouTube without risking loss. OTA-update MIUI. Other methods (ADB or TWRP) Can block automatic firmware updates.

What to do if YouTube has recovered after being deleted

Even after successful removal, YouTube can return in three ways:

1. Update MIUI: New firmware versions often restore system applications, so the solution is to disable automatic updates to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points (⋮) → Settings → Turn off auto-update.
2. Settings reset: After Hard Reset, all pre-installed applications return, and the solution is to back up TWRP before resetting and restore it after.
3. Google Play Services: Google Services can reinstall YouTube in the background. Solution - in the Google Play settings, disable auto-update for all apps (Settings → Auto Update → Do not update automatically).

If YouTube returned after using Method 3 (ADB), repeat the command:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube

And add lock through the App Quarantine (an app from Google Play that prohibits running selected APKs).

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing YouTube from Xiaomi Redmi