How to permanently remove YouTube from Xiaomi Redmi 8: from simple to radical

You’re tired of the annoying YouTube notifications that eat up Xiaomi Redmi’s battery life 8? Or do you want to free up memory space by removing an unnecessary system app? Unlike most Android smartphones, where YouTube can simply be uninstalled, on Xiaomi devices with firmware MIUI It's a very nuanced process, because YouTube is often integrated into the system as a duplicate app. /system/priv-app/ and /data/app/), a) its complete removal requires circumvention of manufacturer restrictions.

In this article, we will discuss 5 ways from temporary shutdown to cardinal removal with ADB and modified firmware. Importantly, some methods will require unlocking the bootloader or superuser rights (root), which can affect the warranty. We will note the risks and offer alternatives for users who are not ready for radical measures, and you will learn how to disable automatic YouTube recovery after MIUI updates – this is a unique problem for Xiaomi devices.

1. disable YouTube without deletion (for beginners)

If you just need to hide an app and stop it, but not permanently delete it, this is the best way to do it, and it doesn't require root rights, and you can reversibly return YouTube at any time.

Steps:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search bar, type “YouTube” and select the application from the list.
• ⚙️ Click Disable (if the button is inactive, first click Remove Updates).
• ✅ Confirm the action in the dialog window.

Once disabled, the YouTube icon will disappear from the home screen and the app’s background processes will stop working, but MIUI updates can automatically restore YouTube, as we’ll discuss in the section on blocking updates.

⚠️ Warning: The disabled app will remain in the phone’s memory and will take up space (about 150-200 MB.

2.Remove YouTube Updates (Free Space)

Even if you can't uninstall the app itself, you can return it to the factory version, saving up to 100MB of storage.This is useful if YouTube was pre-installed by the manufacturer but you've updated it through Google Play.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → YouTube.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Remove Updates.
3. Confirm the action. The app will go back to the version that was on the phone out of the box.

Then, stop automatically updating YouTube on Google Play:

• 🛒 Open Google Play → Profile → Application and device management.
• 🔍 Find YouTube in the list and uncheck the auto update.

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If the Remove Updates button is inactive, try clearing the app cache first (Settings → Apps → YouTube → Memory → Clear the cache).

3. YouTube Delete via ADB (no root)

This is the most efficient way to completely remove YouTube from Xiaomi Redmi 8 without getting root rights. The method works through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, you will need a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and USB debugging enabled on your phone.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the 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 allow debugging in the window that appears.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Mac/Linux) and type:

adb devices

(Your device name should appear as a confirmation of your connection.)

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

If the command is successful, YouTube will be removed for the current user (without affecting system files).

• ✅ The app will disappear from the menu and stop updating.
• ⚠️ After resetting settings or updating MIUI YouTube may be back.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI The command may not work due to manufacturer restrictions, in which case try the alternative command: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.youtube Or use the root-rights method (section) 5).

4.Blocking YouTube Automatic Recovery

One of the most common problems with the Xiaomi Redmi 8 is that YouTube self-repairs after the MIUI update, which is because the firmware contains recovery scripts for system applications, and to avoid this, you need to block the installation of YouTube at the system level.

Methods of blocking:

The most reliable way to do this without root is to check YouTube regularly after updates and repeat the ADB command. Titanium Backup or System App Remover (available on Google Play) is suitable for root-right users.

5. Radical removal with root and custom recavery

If you are willing to go to extreme lengths, getting root rights and installing custom recovery (such as TWRP) will allow you to completely delete YouTube, including system files.

• 🔓 Requires unlocking the bootloader (resets all data!).
• 🛠️ Violates Xiaomi’s Guarantee.
• ⚠️ Risk of “briefing” when errors occur in the process.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (Mi Unlock Tool). This will take up to 7 days of waiting (manufacturer restriction).
2. Install TWRP for Redmi 8 (download the current version from the XDA Developers forum).
3. Make a backup copy through TWRP (Backup → Select sections → Swipe to Backup).
4. Delete YouTube: In TWRP, go to Advanced → File Manager, find folders: /system/priv-app/YouTube /system/app/YouTube /data/app/com.google.android.youtube*

Remove them, then run Wipe → Dalvik/ART Cache.

Once rebooted, YouTube will be permanently removed and MIUI updates will not be able to restore it, but some Google features (like Google Play) may not work as well.

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Before unlocking the bootloader, be sure to link your Mi Account to your phone – without this, you will not be able to unlock Redmi 8 through the Mi Unlock Tool!

6.Alternatives: How to Replace YouTube Without Deleting

If the goal is not so much to remove YouTube as to get rid of its shortcomings (advertising, high battery consumption, intrusive notifications), consider alternative solutions:

• 🎥 NewPipe is a YouTube open client with no ads or background playback installed via F-Droid.
• 🔒 Vanced MicroG – modified version of YouTube with ad blocking (requires MicroG installation).
• 📱 SkyTube – an app for viewing YouTube via Tor (anonymity) + no advertising).
• 🌐 YouTube in the browser with the extension uBlock Origin (to block ads).

Advantages of alternatives:

• ✅ No need to remove the system application.
• ✅ Save battery power (no background processes).
• ✅ More features (background playback, ad blocking).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Some apps (such as Vanced) are no longer supported.
• ❌ Manual installation may be required APK.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you delete YouTube on Xiaomi Redmi 8, users often face typical problems.

If you are unsure about your actions, start with the safest methods (disabling or removing updates) and then move on to ADB or root.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions