How to completely remove YouTube from Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: from shutdown to uninstallation

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 often face a problem: preinstalled YouTube takes up space in memory, consumes traffic in the background and is not deleted by standard means. Even after clicking “Delete” in the app menu, the system leaves its “headless” version, which continues to be updated through Google Play. In this article, we will analyze all working methods from securely disabling to completely deleting APK system files, including methods for users without root rights.

The Redmi Note 7 (lavender) feature is that YouTube is integrated into MIUI firmware as a system application, which means that simple uninstallation through settings is impossible — you’ll need additional tools like ADB or third-party utilities, and we’ve tested all methods on MIUI 12.5-14 and ensure that they don’t disrupt the phone when executed correctly.

⚠️ Attention: Removal of system APK If you use Google Play Services (such as Gmail or Google Maps), check their performance after uninstallation.

1. disable YouTube without deletion (safe method)

If you just want to hide YouTube and stop it from working in the background, you just have to turn the app off through the settings.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type “YouTube” and select the app from the list.
3. Click “Disable” (the button will become active if the app has been updated through the Play Market).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

After the shutdown:

• 📱 YouTube icon will disappear from the app menu.
• 🔄 The app will stop updating through Google Play.
• 📵 Background activity (such as notifications) will be blocked.
• ⚠️ YouTube system files will remain on the device (take up) ~50–70 MB).

⚠️ Note: If you have previously updated YouTube through the Play Market, disabling it will return it to the factory version. To completely remove the updates, click "Delete Updates" in the same menu before disabling.

2.Removing YouTube Updates via Google Play

YouTube on Redmi Note 7 consists of two parts:

1. System APK is a pre-installed version from Xiaomi (not removed without ADB).
2. Updates from the Play Market are custom updates that can be reset.

To bring YouTube back to the factory version:

1. Open Google Play and find YouTube.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → “Delete” (if the button is inactive, there are no updates).
3. Confirm removal.

If the “Delete” button is missing, it means:

• 🔹 The application has not been updated (system version is used).
• 🔹 YouTube has been deactivated via ADB earlier.
• 🔹 You have a modified firmware installed (e.g. Pixel Experience).

💡

After removing the updates, disable YouTube auto-update in the Play Market: open the app page → three dots → “Disable Auto-Update.”

3. Completely delete YouTube via ADB (no root)

To completely uninstall the YouTube system, you will need ADB (Android Debug Bridge) which works on the Redmi Note 7 with any version of MIUI and does not require superuser rights.

📌 What's the matter:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB phone-on.
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB (You can download from the official Android website).

🔧 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on MIUI Version to activate Developer Mode. Then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission in the window that appears.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the folder with ADB and execute: adb devices If the device appears in the list, type: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube

✅ The result: YouTube will be completely deleted for the current user (without affecting other profiles, if any) System files will remain, but will not take up space.

⚠️ Note: If you see a Failure error after completing the command [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR], signifier:

• 🔹 You have modified firmware installed on your device (e.g. LineageOS).
• 🔹 Xiaomi has blocked the removal of the system APK in your version MIUI (chinese-style).
• 🔹 Requires unlocking the bootloader (bootloader).

4. YouTube Deletion with Root Rights

If you have a bootloader unlocked and you have Magisk or another root manager installed, you can delete YouTube like any other system application, which gives you a 100% guarantee of removing all APK files and cache, but you need to be careful.

🛠️ Essential tools:

• 📱 Root access (check through the Root Checker app).
• 🔧 File Manager with support for root (for example, Root Explorer or Root Explorer) FX File Explorer).
• 🗑️ Backup of data (in case of failure).

📌 Instructions:

1. Open the root manager and go to /system/priv-app/YouTube or /system/app/YouTube.
2. Delete files: YouTube.apk (main application file), YouTube.odex (optimized cache if any), lib folder (contains application libraries).

Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: Deleting system files may result in bootloop ( looped boot) if:

• 🔹 You have deleted files related to Google Play Services.
• 🔹 folder /system It was set up in the "read only" mode (ro).
• 🔹 You are using an incompatible version of Magisk (relevant to the MIUI 13+).

💡

Before removing system files through root, be sure to back up your /system folder using TWRP or OrangeFox Recovery.

5. Alternative methods: Disconnect via Titanium Backup or Debloater

If ADB seems complicated and root rights don’t, you can use specialized utilities to “de-enable” system applications.

🔹 Titanium Backup: Allows you to “freeze” or completely delete YouTube, including its data and cache.

🔹 Universal Android Debloater: A free utility for PCs with a graphical interface. ADB, But it simplifies the process of selecting applications from the list.

📌 Example of a team for Debloater:

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


./adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.apps.youtube.music

(The second command deletes YouTube Music if it is not needed.)

6 What to do if YouTube is back after MIUI update

After a major firmware update (e.g. from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13), Xiaomi can restore remote system applications.

• 🔧 Turn off auto-update MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update the system and disable "Automatic booting».
• 📵 Block updates through ADB: Follow the command: adb shell pm hide com.google.android.youtube (Hides the app from the update system.)
• 🔄 Use custom recovery: Install TWRP Before updating, remove unnecessary items. APK firmware (payload.bin).

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Camera or other apps that rely on Google Play Services, deleting YouTube can lead to errors such as:

• Google Play Services has stopped (reboot is solved).
• “It is impossible to verify the authenticity of the device” (requires reinstallation of the GMS).

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When you delete YouTube on Redmi Note 7, users face typical problems.

🔹 If ADB can't see the device:

1. Install Xiaomi USB Drivers (download on the official website).
2. Try another one. USB-cable (preferably original).
3. Turn on the "File Transfer" mode when connecting.

🔹 If Google Services are no longer available after removal:

• Install the latest versions of Google Play Services and Google Play Store manually (download APK on APKMirror).
• Clear the cache and data of Google Play Services in the application settings.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions