Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often face intrusive embedded software. Standard MIUI firmware or the new HyperOS contains many pre-installed apps, among which YouTube occupies a special place. Users want to know how to remove YouTube on Xiomi's phone to make space or just get rid of unnecessary visual noise.
Unfortunately, standard system tools cannot completely remove this service, as it is a system component of Google. However, there are effective workarounds. In this article, we will discuss in detail the methods of disabling, hiding and completely removing through the computer, as well as the risks and alternatives.
Before you start active, you need to understand the difference between "delete" and "disconnect." Disabling just hides the icon and stops the background processes, while completely removing requires the use of debugging tools. The choice of method depends on your technical training and goals.
Why YouTube can’t be removed with a button
The main reason you won’t find the “Delete” button in the application management menu is because of the Android architecture: Google’s services, including the video platform, are integrated into the System Image system section, which the operating system considers critical to its operation by blocking standard removal.
Smartphone makers including Xiaomi are entering into agreements with Google to pre-install a specific application package (GMS) that powers the Play Market store and other services. Attempting to grossly interfere with a file system without superuser rights (Root) can lead to errors.
⚠️ Warning: Attempts to remove system files manually through Root-enabled file managers can result in a bootloop (infinite restart) or unstable system operation.
That's why we're going to use legal methods to interact with the system, which allow you to safely deactivate or delete packets without compromising the integrity of the bootloader, which is the safest approach for the average user.
It’s also worth noting that even after uninstalling, the application can return after a setting reset or major firmware update.The system automatically restores a standard set of programs on the first run.
Disconnection method through system settings
The easiest and safest way to get rid of an annoying app is to force it to shut down, a method that doesn't require a computer, special cables, or complex settings, and is ideal for those who just want to remove an icon from their desktop.
It takes only a few minutes, and you need to go to your device's settings menu, and you need to find the section that manages the installed programs.
Follow the algorithm further:
- 📱 Open Settings and go to the Application section.
- 🔍 Select All Apps and find in the YouTube list.
- 🚫 Click the Disable button (or “Delete Updates” if the first one is not available).
- ✅ Confirm the action in the pop-up window.
Once you do this, the icon will disappear from the screen and the process will stop, the system will no longer allocate resources for its operation, but the memory will be spared only a little, since the files will remain in the system partition.
If the "Disable" button is inactive (gray), try pressing "Delete Updates" first, which will return the application to the factory version, after which the "Disable" function is often available, a standard behavior for many Android system components.
Complete removal via ADB (for advanced users)
For those who want to completely clear memory and remove system debris, there is a method using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to send commands directly to the operating system from your computer, it is safe if you follow the instructions, and does not require Root rights.
You will need a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux), USB-You need to activate the developer mode on the phone first. → About phone and quickly press 7 times on the item Version MIUI (or OS).
Then turn on the debugging over USB:
- 💻 Go to the Advanced Settings → For developers.
- 🔌 Activate the debugging switch on USB.
- 🖥️ Download and install Platform Tools (ADB) computer.
- 🔗 Connect your phone to your PC and allow debugging on your smartphone screen.
Once connected, open the command prompt on your computer in the ADB folder. Enter the adb device command to make sure the device is visible. If it goes well, you'll see your gadget's serial number.
Now you can start removing. Type in the command:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtubeThis command removes the app for the current user (user 0) without touching the system partition directly, making the process reversible.
☑️ Check before removal through ADB
Use of specialized utilities (Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools)
Command line work can seem daunting for beginners. Fortunately, enthusiasts have created graphical shells that simplify the process. One of the most popular and reliable is Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools from developer Szaki.
This software automatically determines the model of your device and shows you a list of all the installed applications. The interface is clear and does not require knowledge of commands. You just tick the boxes against the unnecessary software.
Advantages of using the utility:
- 🛡️ The program warns about the removal of critical system components.
- 🗑️ It allows you to remove not only YouTube, but also other Xiaomi ads (Mi Browser, Mi Video).
- 🔄 It allows you to recover the deleted with one click.
- 📊 Shows memory with each application.
The program will also require USB debugging enabled. Download the archive from the official repository, unpack and run the start.bat file (for Windows).
⚠️ Warning: Do not remove apps you are not sure about. Deleting Google Play system services may disrupt the app store and banking software.
Using these tools reduces the risk of error, and you see a list of everything on the phone, and you can make an informed decision, and it's the best choice for a mass cleaning.
Alternatives: How to watch videos without an official app
Once an official customer is removed, users often ask, "How do you watch videos now?" Fortunately, the Android ecosystem offers many alternatives, and many of them are advertising-free and feature-rich.
One of the best alternatives is the ReVanced project, which is a modified version of YouTube that includes an ad blocker, the ability to play back in the background and the return of the dislike button.
Other popular options:
- 📺 NewPipe is a lightweight, open source client that doesn’t require Google services.
- 🌐 Browser version – using YouTube via Chrome or Firefox with blockers installed.
- 📱 Vanced MicroG – a necessary component for the operation of modified versions with login to the account.
Installing alternative customers requires downloading APK-- files from third-party resources, as they are not in the Play Market.Be careful and download software only from official developer sites or trusted repositories, such as GitHub or F-Droid.
Using third-party customers not only eliminates advertising, but also saves traffic and battery power, the official application is known for its "heavy" code and high resource consumption in the background.
What's ReVanced?
Possible problems and solutions
There are a lot of technical challenges in the process of uninstalling, and often users find that the app comes back after a reboot, which is common in some firmware versions where there is a self-healing mechanism.
The table below shows common errors and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The app returned after the reboot | Systemic recovery | Use ADB after each reboot or reflash the device |
| Failure's mistake [INSTALL_FAILED_UPDATE_INCOMPATIBLE]" | Conflict of versions when installing alternatives | Completely remove the original via ADB before installing the mod |
| Phone not visible in ADB | There are no drivers or debugging | Reinstall drivers, check cable, reconnect USB |
| Google Pay has stopped working. | Google Play Services Removed | Restore com.google.android.gms packages via ADB |
Another common problem is losing synchronization of browsing history. If you use alternative clients, make sure you sign in to your Google account. In some clients, such as NewPipe, login to your account is not supported for privacy reasons.
If after all the manipulations, the phone starts to work unstable, you can always reset to the factory settings, this will bring all system applications back to their places, so before you start experiments, back up important data.
Conclusion and outcome
Removing YouTube from Xiaomi smartphones is a solvable task, but one that requires understanding the differences between disabling and completely uninstalling. For most users, simply disabling through settings is enough, which is safe and fast.
For enthusiasts who want to be clean, ADB is the gold standard, and it allows you to uninstall the application for the current user without disrupting the integrity of the system, and it's important to be careful not to delete the extra.
⚠️ Warning: Complete removal of system components may result in loss of warranty or unstable operation of the device.
Don't forget the alternatives. The move away from the official app to the lightweight ad blocker is a step towards a more comfortable smartphone experience, and you get the same content, but without the intrusive advertising and surveillance.
Technology gives us customization tools, and use them wisely to make your Xiaomi work the way you want it to work, not the way marketers intended it to work.
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The safest way is to disable via settings, the most effective way is to uninstall via ADB and then install an alternative client.
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Before removing system applications through ADB, be sure to back up your data to an external medium or cloud.