Many owners of budget smartphones like the Redmi 8A face the intrusive presence of pre-installed software.Youtube is a system app in the MIUI shell, making it impossible to remove by standard methods.Users often want to free up precious internal storage or simply get rid of unnecessary visual noise on the menu.
In this article, we will look at all the available ways to do this, from safely shutting down to completely deleting through your computer, why the Remove button is inactive and what risks exist when interfering with system components, and we will also touch on the topic of alternative clients who consume fewer resources.
Before taking action, you need to be clear about the difference between deactivation and complete deletion: Deactivation hides the application and prevents it from running, leaving files on the system; Deletion requires more complex manipulation of access rights and can affect the stability of other Google services.
Why it is impossible to remove the application
The Android operating system in conjunction with the MIUI shell has a strict security policy: Key services Google, which includes the video platform, are protected from accidental or inexperienced removal, this is done to ensure that the user does not disrupt the work of their dependent functions, such as voice input or account synchronization.
When you try to remove an application through a standard menu, the system checks its status, and if the application is marked as system, the delete button will be missing or inactive, a security mechanism that prevents critical errors in the smartphone.
⚠️ Note: Attempts to obtain root rights to delete system files may result in loss of warranty and disruption of banking applications on your Redmi. 8A.
There are several layers of file system access. Normal user mode does not allow you to modify the /system partition where important components are stored. To circumvent this limitation, you need to use special debugging tools or obtain advanced rights, which always carries certain risks.
Preparation of the smartphone for the procedure
Before you start any manipulation of system settings, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps to ensure the safety of your data and the stability of the device during the setup process, ignoring these steps can lead to unpredictable results.
First of all, back up your critical data. Even if you don't plan to reset completely, an accidental error when you delete system packages may require you to go back to factory settings, save contacts, photos and documents to the cloud or to your computer.
Then activate the developer mode. To do this, go to the Settings → About the phone and find the MIUI version. Click on it 7-10 times in a row before the notification that you have become a developer appears.
☑️ Redmi Preparation 8A
Once you activate the developer mode, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Developer. Find the USB Debugging option and turn it on. It is also recommended to enable the option “Install via USB” and “Debug via Wi-Fi” if they are available in your firmware version.
Disconnection method through system settings
The safest and easiest way to get rid of an annoying app is to force it to shut down, a method that doesn't require a computer connection or complex software, and is ideal for those who want to just remove the icon and stop the background.
To start, open the Settings menu → Apps → All apps. Search YouTube in the list. If search is difficult, use the search bar at the top of the screen. Click on the app name to open the control menu.
In the window that opens, you'll see the "Delete Updates" button. Click on it and confirm the action. This will return the application to the factory version, which often frees up a significant amount of memory, and then the "Disable" button will be active.
| Action. | The result | Returns |
|---|---|---|
| Removal of updates | Liberation of the place | Automatic. |
| Shutdown | Hiding from the menu | Through settings |
| Clearing the cache | Temporary acceleration | Instantly. |
| Stopping. | Completion of processes | At launch. |
Once disabled, the app icon will disappear from the desktop and menu, but the files will remain in the device’s memory, a method that ensures that YouTube does not consume RAM or transfer data in the background.
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Disconnection is the safest method that does not violate the integrity of the system and is easily reversible at any time through the settings of the smartphone.
Complete removal via ADB and computer
For those who want to completely erase the traces of the app’s presence, there is a method of using the Android Debug Bridge debugging bridge, which requires a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux, as well as an installed driver for Xiaomi.
First, download the Platform Tools package from the official Android developer site. Unpack the archive into a convenient folder on your computer. Connect your smartphone with a cable to your PC. You'll see a request for debugging permission on your phone screen -- make sure you tick "Always Allow" and click "OK."
Open the command line in the ADB tool folder. Enter the adb device command to check the connection. If that's correct, you'll see the serial number of your Redmi 8A. You can now move to deletion.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtubeThis command removes the application for the current user, without affecting the system partition directly, but making it inaccessible. Once the command is executed, the message "Success" will appear in the terminal. The application will disappear completely, including its ability to restore through settings.
⚠️ Note: When removing through ADB Be careful with packet names, and removing a system component with an erroneous name can cause a bootloop to cycle).
If you want to return the application in the future, use the command adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.youtube.This will restore the package from hidden system storage. This method is considered advanced and requires care.
What to do if your computer can’t see your phone?
Alternative Clients and Lite Versions
Often, the desire to remove a standard application is dictated by its heavyweightness and the abundance of advertising, instead of completely removing it, you can consider installing lightweight versions or third-party clients, which consume less CPU and RAM, which is critical for the Redmi 8A.
There are open source projects like NewPipe or SmartTube that don't require Google Play to be installed and allow you to play video in the background without ads. APK-files, as they are not in the official store.
You can also use the YouTube Go version if it's compatible with your version of Android, which is designed for regions with slow internet and saves traffic, but support for this version is gradually being phased out, so look for the latest forks.
- 🚀 NewPipe – a lightweight client without advertising and tracking, supports video downloads.
- 📺 SmartTube – great for TVs, but it works on tablets/phones, removes ads.
- ⚡ YouTube Go – Google’s official lightweight version for weak devices.
Using alternative software allows you to keep the functionality of watching videos, but eliminates the drawbacks of the official application, which is a compromise solution for those who need content, but do not need unnecessary features.
Cleaning of residual files and cache
Even after an application is disabled or deleted, temporary files can remain in the memory of a smartphone, take up space and sometimes slow down the system, and cleaning this data regularly is a useful habit for owners of devices with little memory.
Go to Settings → Storage → Other apps. Go to Google or YouTube (if it still shows up) click on Clear Cache and Clear Everything. This will remove the time data and video thumbnails.
For a deeper cleanup, you can use the built-in Security app from Xiaomi. Run the scan and use the Cleanup function. The system will find residual files that can be safely deleted without risking the OS.
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Use the Advanced Cleanup feature in the Security app once a week to remove advertising files and sketch cache that can take hundreds of megabytes.
Remember that clearing the cache does not delete your personal settings or account history unless you have selected the Clear All Data option.Be careful when choosing the type of cleanup to avoid losing saved offline videos.