How to completely remove YouTube from Xiaomi Redmi 10: from a simple shutdown to a deep cleaning

The YouTube app on Xiaomi Redmi 10 is often a source of annoyance: it takes up space in memory, consumes traffic in the background and obsessively offers updates. Especially annoying is the inability to standard delete — the “Delete” button in the app menu is simply absent. Why is this happening?

YouTube is pre-installed as a system app under a partnership with Google, where the manufacturer blocks its removal to ensure that key services (like Google Play Services) work, but that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to put up with unnecessary software. In this article, we’ll look at 5 working methods, from temporary shutdown to full removal to superuser rights, each one tested on Redmi 10 with MIUI 12-14 firmware.

Important: Before you start manipulating, check if you are using YouTube-dependent features (such as Google Assistant or Smart Reply in Messages).

1. disable YouTube without deletion (no root rights)

If you just need to hide the application and stop its background activity, just turn it off through the settings. This method does not require special knowledge and reversible:

1. Open 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 not been updated through Google Play).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

After the shutdown:

• 📱 YouTube icon will disappear from the desktop and app menu.
• 🔄 Background processes (e.g. autoplay video) will stop.
• 📥 Updates to Google Play will be impossible (but the app will remain in the phone’s memory).

⚠️ Note: If the "Disable" button is inactive, YouTube has been updated via Google Play, in which case, roll back to the factory version first (see section 2).

2. YouTube rollback to factory version

The YouTube app that has been updated through Google Play cannot be disabled in the standard way, but the solution is to return the factory version, which is system-based and deactivable.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → YouTube.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select “Delete Updates”.
3. Confirm action. The app will roll back to the version preinstalled on Redmi 10.
4. The “Disable” button will now be active (see Section 1).

If there is no “Remove Updates” item, it means:

• 🔧 You're using it. MIUI without Google services (for example, Chinese firmware).
• 🔒 Application protected by administrator policies (less often).

Make sure your phone is over 30 times charged%|

Close all background applications |

Connect to Wi-Fi (in case of downloading the factory version)|

Check the vacant space (need to be checked). ~100MB)-->

After the rollback, Google Play may offer to update YouTube again.To avoid this, open the app's Play Market page, click three dots, and uncheck the "Auto Update" box.

3. YouTube Deletion via ADB (no root rights)

For those willing to go further than shutdown, there is an Android Debug Bridge (ADB) removal method.It doesn't require root rights, but it will require a computer and minimal command-line skills.

Advantages of the method:

• 🧹 Complete removal of the application (including cache and data).
• 🔄 The ability to restore YouTube through resetting settings.
• 🛡️ Safer than root rights (does not violate the guarantee).

Step-by-step:

1. Put the debugging on. USB: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Click 7 times to become a developer) → Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Turn on "Debugging by" USB».
2. Connect Redmi 10 to your computer via USB-Cable (original!) Select File Transfer Mode».
3. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into the C:\adb folder.
4. Open the command prompt in this folder (Shift + PCM → Open PowerShell window here) and type:

adb devices

(Your device name should appear. If not, install Xiaomi drivers.)

adb shell


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

Once the command is executed, YouTube will be deleted for the current user (without affecting system files), the application will disappear from the menu, and its data will be erased.

⚠️ Note: If after removal through ADB Have problems with Google Play Services (e.g. login errors), follow the command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.gms

4. Complete removal through root rights

If you're willing to take drastic measures, getting root rights will allow you to delete YouTube at the system file level, which is a method that's suitable for power users, because:

• 🔓 Violates Xiaomi’s Guarantee.
• 🛡️ May cause security issues (e.g., blocking banking applications).
• 🔄 Requires firmware recovery when selling your phone.

Redmi 10 (codename selene) will be suitable for the method of unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk.

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Xiaomi account binding and wait 7 days).
2. Install custom recovery (e.g. TWRP for selene).
3. Please use Magisk to obtain root rights.
4. Use a root-access file manager (such as Root Explorer) and delete YouTube files by the following paths: /system/priv-app/YouTube/ or /system/app/YouTube/.

Once removed, it is recommended to “freeze” the com.google.android.youtube package via Magisk or Titanium Backup to prevent it from being restored when you update your MIUI.

💡

Before you get root rights, make a full backup through TWRP (including the EFS section), which will save your IMEI and modem data if you fail to firmware.

Alternative methods: concealment and replacement

If removal seems too risky, consider alternative options:

To hide the icon:

1. Hold your finger on the YouTube icon on your desktop.
2. Drag it up to the inscription "Delete" (in MIUI it is not removal, but concealment).
3. Confirm the action. The icon will disappear, but the app will remain on the menu.

To install NewPipe (an alternative YouTube client without ads):

1. Download APK from the official website newpipe.net.
2. Allow installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install Unknown Applications).
3. Set up an APK and set up an account (if necessary).

Restore YouTube after Deletion

If you change your mind or have problems after deleting, you can restore YouTube in several ways:

• 🔄 Resetting settings: Settings → The phone. → Resetting (resetting all system applications).
• 📥 Installation through APK: Download the latest version from APKMirror and install manually.
• 🔧 Recovery through ADB (if removed by this method: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.youtube

If YouTube does not start after recovery, clear the cache and application data (Settings → Apps → YouTube → Storage → Clear cache / data).

💡

Even after you delete YouTube completely, you can restore it without flashing your phone, and the most reliable way is to reset your settings, but it erases all user data.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you delete YouTube on Redmi 10, users often face typical problems, and here's how to avoid or fix them:

If the phone starts to overheat or drain quickly after you manipulated YouTube, check the activity of processes through Settings → Battery → Battery Use. Google background services may be trying to restore the remote application.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (For example, the global stable after the removal of YouTube through ADB Google PlayFilms and Google may be lost TV. It's about the dependencies of the packages, and the solution is to install these applications manually through the APK.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions