Why YouTube on Xiaomi Mi TV 4S can get in the way – and how to remove it forever
Owners of Xiaomi Mi TV 4S (especially the 2018-2022 PatchWall 3/4 models) often face a problem: the pre-installed YouTube app cannot be removed by standard methods. It takes up space in memory, slows down the system and imposes updates that can conflict with the TV firmware. Worse, after resetting or updating the YouTube software, it comes back.
In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to remove YouTube from the Mi TV 4S (including the 4S 32, 4S 43, 4S 50 and 4S 55 models) and explain how to prevent its automatic recovery. All methods are tested on MIUI TV 2.0-3.5 firmware and do not require disassembly of the device or soldering.
⚠️ Important: Some ways will require connecting the TV to the PC and using it ADB (If you have never worked with this tool, start with the simplest methods (sections 2–3).
Method 1: Disable YouTube via PatchWall Settings (without deletion)
If you don't have to completely remove an app, but just hide it from the interface and stop the background, it's the fastest method. It doesn't require superuser rights and works on all versions of the Mi TV 4S.
Instructions:
- 📺 Open the settings on the remote (button with a gear).
- 🔍 Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
- 🔧 Find it in the YouTube list and select it.
- ❌ Click Disable (if the button is inactive – see Method 2).
- 🔄 Restart the TV through Settings → On TV. → Reboot.
After that, the YouTube icon will disappear from the home screen and the app will no longer consume resources, but it will remain in memory and can be activated again after the system update.
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If the "Disable" button is inactive, try first clearing the YouTube cache in the same menu (Clear Cache).
Method 2: Remove via ADB (for power users)
The ADB (Android Debug Bridge) method is the most reliable way to completely remove YouTube from the Xiaomi Mi TV 4S. It requires connecting the TV to your computer and basic command line knowledge.
What you need:
- 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original from Xiaomi).
- 📥 Utility. ADB Tools (download from Android site).
- ⚙️ Developer mode on the TV.
Step-by-step:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About TV. Find the Build Number and click on it 7 times in a row (you will be a developer notification). Return to Settings → Additional → Developer. Enable USB Debugging and OEM Factory Unlock.
- Connect the TV to the PC: Connect the Mi TV 4S computer USB-You'll see a request for debugging permission on the TV, confirm (always allow).
Start ADB and delete YouTube:
adb devices(A device such as 192.168.x.x:5555 device should be displayed)
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.youtube.tvIf the team doesn’t work, try:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube.tv⚠️ Note: After YouTube is deleted via ADB Some Google features (such as Chromecast or Google Assistant) may not work properly, and the app will return after a full reset or firmware update.
Developer mode is on|Debugging is permitted. USB|Installed ADB Tools on PC|The TV's on. USB-cable|Command Prompt Launched on behalf of the Administrator-->
Method 3: Reset the TV to factory settings (with nuances)
Hard Reset removes all user data, including the apps installed. However, on Xiaomi Mi TV 4S, YouTube is a system app, so it will recover after the reset, which is only suitable if you want to clean the TV before selling or after a virus.
How to do the reset correctly:
- Go to Settings → About TV → Reset settings.
- Choose to erase all data (not to be confused with Network Reset!).
- Confirm the action with a password (by default 0000 or 1234, if you have not changed it).
- Wait for the reboot (it will take 3-5 minutes).
After resetting, YouTube will return, but you can immediately disable it through settings (see Method 1). To prevent automatic updates to the app, go to Settings → Apps → YouTube → Auto Update and turn off this option.
Yeah, because of the glitches.|Yeah, before the sale.|No, I'm afraid of losing my data.|No, I didn't know about that function.-->
Method 4: Block YouTube updates via host file (for advanced)
If YouTube is deleted and then returned after a firmware update, the problem is that APKs are automatically downloaded from Google servers, and to avoid this, you can block access to update domains through editing the hosts file.
Instructions:
- Connect to the TV via ADB (as in Method 2).
- Download the current hosts file: adb pull /system/etc/hosts
- Open the file in your notebook and add at the end of the line: 127.0.0.1 android.clients.google.com 127.0.0.1 play.googleapis.com
- Download the file back to adb push hosts /system/etc/hosts (you may need to remount the partition to write mode: adb remount).
- Reboot the TV: adb reboot
⚠️ Note: Incorrect editing of hosts may disrupt other Google services (e.g. Google Play Market or Chromecast.
| Deleting method | Difficulty | You need a PC? | Is it being restored after the update? | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disconnection in settings | ⭐ (simple) | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | No. |
| Removal via ADB | ⭐⭐⭐ (middle-of-the-road) | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No (before discharge) | Google services could break down |
| Resetting settings | ⭐⭐ (easily) | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | All data is deleted |
| Blocking through hosts | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | Risk of disrupting other applications |
Method 5: Install custom firmware (extreme case)
If none of the methods worked, and YouTube keeps coming back, there is an alternative firmware option, a radical solution that will completely replace the standard PatchWall shell with another one (e.g. AOSP or LineageOS).
⚠️ Warnings:
- 🚨 The TV guarantee will burn immediately after the firmware.
- 🔧 A bad firmware can turn Mi into a bad one. TV 4S brick".
- 📺 Not all functions (such as remote control or smart capabilities) will work.
If you are prepared for risk, follow the algorithm:
- Find firmware for your model on the XDA Developers forum (see device code for example L32M5-5AIN for Mi TV 4S 32).
- Unpack the archive and follow the instructions (usually fastboot or recovery is required).
- Use the USB Burning Tool to run through your PC.
What if the TV doesn’t turn on after the firmware?
How to Prevent YouTube Return After Deleting
Even if you managed to delete YouTube, it can come back after:
- 🔄 Firmware updates (MIUI TV Often restores system applications).
- 🔧 Resetting settings.
- 📥 Automatic synchronization with Google account.
To avoid this:
- Turn off automatic update: Go to Settings → Apps → YouTube → Auto Update. Select Do Not Update.
- Block the Internet for YouTube: Add a firewall rule on the router that blocks access to domains: android.clients.google.com play.googleapis.com www.youtube.com
- Do not update the firmware: In Settings → About TV → System Update, disable Auto Update.
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The most reliable way to avoid returning YouTube is to combine deleting via ADB + blocking the hosts file + disabling auto updates.