How to Remove YouTube from Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro: From Standard Methods to Hidden MIUI Features

Why Xiaomi’s standard YouTube deletion doesn’t work – and what to do about it

You tried to remove YouTube from Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro through the usual app menu, but instead of the “Delete” button, you saw only “Disable” or “Delete Updates”? This is not a system bug, but a feature of MIUI. The fact is that YouTube on most Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi Note 9 Pro with MIUI 12-14 firmware) is installed as a system application – even if you downloaded it later from Google Play. The system blocks the complete removal of such APKs so as not to disrupt the work of Google Mobile Services (GMS).

But the good news is that you can get around this restriction without root rights or the risk of bricking your phone. In this article, we’ll look at 5 ways to work, from safely shutting down to deep cleaning through ADB. Importantly, the methods vary in complexity and consequences, so start with the simplest (Section 2) and move on to the radical (Sections 4-5) only if the previous ones didn’t work.

We warn you in advance: after you delete YouTube, you will lose access to:

• 📺 Built-in video player (apps like Gallery can redirect links to YouTube)
• 🔔 Notifications about new subscription videos (if you used a Google account)
• 🎮 YouTube Gaming features in Game Turbo (if you play Redmi Note 9 Pro)

Method 1: Disable YouTube via MIUI settings (without deletion)

If you just have to hide the app and stop it from running in the background, this is the best way to do it, and it doesn't require any additional tools, and you can turn YouTube back on at any time.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type “YouTube” and select the app from the list.
3. Click “Disable” (if the button is inactive, first tap “Delete Updates”).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

What happens after the shutdown:

• 📱 YouTube icon will disappear from the main screen and from the app menu.
• 🔄 The app will not be updated via Google Play.
• 📵 Background processes (e.g. data collection for recommendations) will cease.
• ⚠️ But: it will still take up disk space (about 100-150 MB).

💡

If YouTube continues to appear in MIUI search results after disabling, clear the Launcher cache (long tap on the home screen → Settings → Clear cache).

Method 2: Remove updates and reset to factory version

This method reduces the weight of YouTube on your phone from ~150MB to ~20MB, removing all updates but leaving the basic system version.

How to do this:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → YouTube → Three points (⋮) → Remove updates.
2. Confirm action. The system will return the application to the factory version (usually 14.21.56 or older).
3. Then click on Clear Cache and Clear Data (this will delete logins, history and settings).

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Quick (takes less than a minute).
• 🔄 You can update YouTube later via Google Play.
• 🛡️ Safe – does not affect system files.

Disadvantages:

• 📦 YouTube will remain on the system (albeit in a “light” form).
• 🔄 Next update GMS YouTube can be automatically updated again.

Identify the current version of YouTube in Settings → Apps → YouTube → Version

Connect your phone to Wi-Fi (if you plan to download alternatives)

Back up your Google data (if you use a YouTube account)

Turn off auto-update in Google Play for YouTube-->

Method 3: Remove via ADB (without root but with PC)

If you need to completely erase YouTube from your phone but don’t want root rights, use Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This method works on the Redmi Note 9 Pro with any version of MIUI (including MIUI 14), but requires a computer connection.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 ADB-Google tools.
• ⚙️ Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap the assembly number → return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the Redmi Note 9 Pro to your PC and confirm the debugging permission on your phone screen.
2. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) in the ADB folder.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Follow the command to delete YouTube: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube
5. Reboot the phone.

Importantly, after this command, YouTube will disappear from the system, but its APK will remain in the phone's memory in a "frozen" state, which means that when you reset your settings or update your MIUI, the application can return.

Method 4: Complete removal with root rights (for experienced)

If you're willing to go to extreme lengths to get root rights, you can physically remove the YouTube APK from the system section, which is 100% effective, but has risks:

• ⚠️ Loss of warranty (if the phone is under warranty).
• ⚠️ Risk of “bricking” in case of error.
• ⚠️ Some banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online) may stop working.

How to delete YouTube from root:

1. Get root rights with Magisk (instructions for the Redmi Note 9 Pro here).
2. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
3. Go to /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore/ or (if there is no folder) /system/app/YouTube/
4. Delete files: YouTube.apk YouTube.odex (if any)
5. Reboot the phone.

And then YouTube will be deleted forever, even after the reset, and you'll have to go through the phone to get it back.

Method 5: YouTube Alternatives – What to install instead

If you’ve removed YouTube for memory or privacy reasons, consider alternatives.We tested 5 apps on the Redmi Note 9 Pro and compiled a comparison table:

Recommendation: The Redmi Note 9 Pro offers the best balance of features and security with the NewPipe, which can be downloaded from the official website newpipe.net (not through Google Play!).

💡

If you have removed YouTube for battery saving, check the MIUI Battery Saver settings: even a disabled app can use up charge in the background through Google Play services.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you delete YouTube on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro, users often face typical problems, and we have collected the most common ways to solve them:

⚠️ If you have deleted YouTube through ADB The phone started to slow down, clear the cache of Google Play Services (Settings) → Annexes → Google Play Services → Clear the cache. This is because GMS Trying to restore the remote application.

Problem 1: YouTube is back after the MIUI update.

• 🔧 Solution: Before updating your firmware, disable auto-update apps in Google Play and delete YouTube again via ADB.

Problem 2: Background playback in alternative applications (e.g. NewPipe) is not working.

• 🔧 Solution: Enable the option "Background playback Settings" → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → NewPipe → Not optimize).

Problem 3: When you try to delete YouTube through ADB, you get a Device unauthorized error.

• 🔧 Solution: You'll see a request for debugging permission on your phone, confirm it. If the request doesn't appear, check if debugging is enabled. USB, and reconnect the cable.

💡

If you have removed YouTube but want to keep access to your subscriptions, export them via Google Takeout (https://takeout.google.com) before deleting.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions