How to remove YouTube from Xiaomi Mi TV: All the working methods

Owners of Xiaomi Mi TVs often face a problem: the pre-installed YouTube app cannot be removed by standard methods. It takes up space in memory, automatically updates and can slow down the system - especially on budget models like Mi TV 4A or Mi TV 4S. On some firmware, YouTube runs in the background even after a forced stop, consuming traffic and resources.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for removing YouTube, from simple (disable and hide) to radical (complete removal via ADB or firmware reset). All instructions are tested on the current models Xiaomi Mi TV 5/5X/5 Pro, Mi TV Q1/Q2 and Mi TV Stick with shells PatchWall and Android TV. If you use TV older than 2018, pay attention to the section on the features of older models.

Why YouTube can’t be removed in the standard way

The YouTube app on Xiaomi TVs is classified as a system app, which means:

• 🔹 It is set out in the section /system/priv-app or /system/app, change-proof;
• 🔹 Removal requires root rights or access through ADB (Android Debug Bridge);
• 🔹 Even after a forced stop (Settings) → Annexes → YouTube → Stop) it can restart automatically.

Moreover, on PatchWall TVs (all Xiaomi Mi TV models except Mi TV Stick), YouTube is integrated into the main menu, and its icon can remain on the screen even after uninstallation - this is not a bug, but a feature of the firmware, and to remove it, you will need additional configuration of the launcher.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with Android version below 9.0 (models up to 2019), removing system applications can lead to a cyclical reboot. → On TV. → Android version.

Method 1: Disable and Hide YouTube (without deletion)

If you just have to take YouTube off the home screen and stop it from running in the background, this is the best way to do it. It doesn't require technical skills and it's reversible.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Installed Applications.
2. Find YouTube in the list and select it.
3. Click Stop, then Disable (if the button is active).
4. Return to the home screen, hover over the YouTube icon and press the OK button on the remote.
5. In the menu that appears, select Remove from the home screen (or Hide, depending on the model).

This method does not physically remove the application, but:

• 📵 Stops YouTube background activity;
• 🔕 Remove the icon from the main screen;
• 🚫 Blocks automatic updates (if you disable Settings) → Annexes → YouTube → Auto-update).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Mi) TV 4A 32") after YouTube is disabled, the sound in other applications may disappear, due to a bug in PatchWall 3.0 firmware.

Method 2: Removal via ADB (without root)

If the shutdown isn’t enough, you can delete YouTube entirely using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that works on all Xiaomi Mi TV models with Android 5.0 and higher, but requires a computer.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux;
• 🔌 USB-cable (for Mi) TV Stick — OTG-adapter);
• 📥 Utility. ADB Tools by Google;
• 🔧 Developer mode on the TV.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About TV → Build Number (click 7 times in a row)
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect the TV to your computer through USB (for Mi TV Stick use it. OTG-cable).
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB and do: Adb devices Must appear device with a serial number.
5. Enter the command to delete YouTube: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.youtube.tv An alternative package may be required for Mi TV Stick: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.youtube

If the command is successful, YouTube will disappear from the system.

• 🔄 After resetting the settings or updating the firmware, the application may return;
• 📦 Residual files (cache) will remain in memory (they can be cleared through Settings). → Memory).

💡

If ADB If you can’t see the TV, try using wireless debugging: C → For developers, turn on Wireless debugging and connect to IP via adb connect command [IP-address].

Method 3: Removal via TWRP (for advanced users)

This is a good option for Xiaomi Mi TV owners who are willing to get root rights and install custom recovery.It allows you to delete YouTube permanently, even after updates, but requires technical skills and risks voiding the warranty.

Warnings:

• 🚨 Incorrect actions can lead to a “brick” (breakdown) of the TV;
• 🔧 You will need to unlock the bootloader (on some models this is not possible);
• 📵 After receiving root, they can stop working. OTA-update.

Instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (for TVs, the procedure is different from smartphones - you need the Mi Unlock Tool for TV utility).
2. Install TWRP for your model (firmware is available on the XDA Developers forums).
3. Boot in. TWRP (usually with a Menu button + Power when on) and connect USB-file-storage YouTube_Remover.zip (You can create it yourself or download ready-made).
4. V TWRP Choose Install → Select a file → Swipe to Confirm Flash.

Script for YouTube_Remover.zip (can be created manually):

ui_print ("Delete YouTube...");


unmount /system;




delete_recursive("/system/priv-app/YouTubeTV");




delete_recursive("/system/priv-app/YouTube");




delete_recursive("/system/app/YouTubeTV");




delete_recursive("/system/app/YouTube");




mount /system;




ui_print ("Done!");

⚠️ Attention: On the TVs Xiaomi Mi TV Q2 with PatchWall 5.0 firmware+ Deleting YouTube through TWRP This can break Google Play Services, and you'll need to reflash the module. GMS separately.

Method 4: Reset to factory settings (radical)

If other methods didn't work, and YouTube is critically disrupting the TV, you can do a complete reset, which will delete all user data, but return the system to its original state - without YouTube (on some firmware).

How to reset:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Reset and Recovery.
2. Select Reset (on some models – Reset factory settings).
3. Confirm the action (may be required) PIN-code from Xiaomi account).
4. Wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Important:

• 📌 On TVs with Android 10+ YouTube can return after reset via automatic app recovery;
• 🔄 To avoid this, immediately after reset, turn off the Internet and follow Method 1 or Method 2;
• 💾 Reset removes all accounts, stored Wi-Fi passwords and image settings.

Features for old models (until 2019)

Xiaomi Mi TVs of the first and second generation (Mi TV 3/3S/4) run on a much stripped-down version of Android and have their own nuances:

• 🛠️ They cannot be rooted in standard ways;
• 🔌 ADB-Teams may not work due to a closed loader;
• 📺 YouTube on these models is often built into the firmware and is removed only by flashing.

Alternative solutions:

1. Blocking via router: blacklist the domains youtube.com and googlevideo.com in the Wi-Fi settings;
2. Use an alternative launcher: install an ATV Launcher or Sideload Launcher from APK.
3. Custom ROM firmware: For Mi TV 3, there are firmware based on LineageOS, but they deprive PatchWall of support.

Method 5: Blocking YouTube Updates

If you can’t delete YouTube, but you want to stop automatically updating it, there are two reliable ways to do this:

Method 1: Disconnecting from Google Play

1. Open the Google Play Store;
2. Find YouTube;
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and uncheck the checkmark with Auto Update.

Method 2: Blocking through ADB

Follow the command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.vending

This will disable Google Play Services for the current user, but may disrupt other apps.

You can also freeze YouTube with apps like App Freezer (requires ADB):

adb shell cmd package set-hidden com.google.android.youtube.tv

💡

Blocking updates does not remove YouTube, but it prevents it from growing in size and new features that slow down the TV.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you delete YouTube, users often face problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔍 Firmware Version – Some PatchWall betas have YouTube protected from removal;
• 🔒 Access rights – the manufacturer may have blocked ADB-team;
• 📡 TV region - on models for China (with firmware) MIUI TV) YouTube may not be available initially.

FAQ: Frequent questions