Smartphones of the series Honor 9, despite their age, remain popular due to their balanced characteristics and high-quality screen. However, pre-installed software, in particular services Google, often raises questions among advanced users who want to optimize the system or free up space. The question of how to remove YouTube from Android to Honor 9is one of the most common, since this option is usually blocked by standard system tools. Manufacturers and OS developers consider this application as a system application, critical for the operation of the ecosystem.
In the standard settings menu you will only find the “Disable” button, which hides the icon, but does not delete application files from the device’s memory. To fully eliminate the video service, deeper intervention methods are required. In this article we will look at the technical nuances of working with the shell EMUI, superuser rights and debugging tools. You will learn how to safely carry out the procedure without disrupting the functionality of the rest of the system.
Before taking active steps, you need to understand the risks. Removing system components without creating a backup copy may make it impossible to boot the device (bootloop). The procedure requires care and strict adherence to instructions. We will analyze both software methods via a computer and options for devices with root access.
Why can't you just delete the application through the settings
Operating system Android in conjunction with the shell EMUI from Huawei/Honor has a strict application hierarchy. The app YouTube is marked with the “system” flag, which means it is protected from being deleted by an ordinary user. This is done to ensure the stability of the services Google Play Services, which are closely integrated with the video platform.
When you try to delete an application through the manager, the system checks its status. If the system flag is active, the delete button will be inactive or absent altogether. At best, the “Disable” function is available. This action only freezes the application process, preventing it from launching and updating, but the occupied space in the partition /system/app or /system/priv-app remains reserved.
Moreover, attempts to bypass this limitation through third-party file managers without the proper privileges are doomed to failure. The partition file system system is mounted in read-only mode for a regular user. Without changing access rights or using special debugging protocols, it is impossible to write changes to this section.
⚠️ Attention: Forced deletion of system files through third-party file managers with root access without understanding the dependencies can lead to errors in the operation of Google Play Market and other company services.
There is a misconception that deleting YouTube will free up gigabytes of memory. In fact, the net weight of the application is about 100-200 MB. The main data - cache and downloaded videos - is stored in the user section, which is cleared using standard tools. The real reason for removal often lies in the desire to get rid of an intrusive service or improve energy efficiency.
Preparing the device and enabling USB debugging
To implement advanced removal methods, we need a smartphone-computer connection. The first and most important step is to activate developer mode on your Honor 9. Without this step, the computer will not be able to send commands to the device to modify the system.
The process of activating the hidden menu is standard for devices based on Android. You need to go to the main settings of the phone and find the assembly information. Repeatedly clicking on the build number unlocks access to advanced engineer functions.
- 📱 Go to the menu
Settingsand selectSystem. - ℹ️ Find section
About phoneand quickly press 7-10 times on the lineBuild number. - 🔓 After the message “You have become a developer” appears, return to the menu
System. - 🔌 Select a new item
For developersand activate the switchUSB debugging.
After enabling debugging, connect your smartphone to the PC using a high-quality USB cable. The phone screen will ask you to allow debugging from this computer. Be sure to check the “Always allow” checkbox and confirm the action. This will create a secure tunnel for transmitting commands.
It is also recommended to check the battery charge. The process of working with system partitions is sensitive to sudden power outages. It is desirable that the charge level Honor 9 be at least 60-70%. If the device runs out of power while writing changes to the package registry, the consequences can be unpredictable.
☑️ Ready to remove system applications
Removal method via ADB (without root access)
The most secure and professional way to get rid of the built-in application is to use the utility Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This tool allows you to control the device from your computer by sending commands directly to the system shell. The method does not require obtaining superuser rights, which preserves the warranty (if it is still valid) and reduces the risk of “bricking.”
First you need to download the platform tools (Platform-Tools) from the official website of the developers and unpack them on your computer. Next, open a command prompt or terminal in the folder with the utility. Make sure that the phone is visible to the system by entering the command to check the connection.
adb devicesIf your serial number Honor 9 with status deviceis displayed in the list, the connection has been established successfully. The next step is to identify the exact package name of the YouTube application. The standard name usually looks like com.google.android.youtube, but in firmware Honor there may be variations.
To clarify, you can use the command that displays a list of all installed packages and filter them by the word youtube. This will help avoid errors and uninstallation of the required component.
adb shell pm list packages | findstr youtubeAfter confirming the package name, the uninstall command is executed for the current user. It is important to understand that the apk file physically remains on the system partition, but the system no longer sees it as an installed application for your account. This is a reversible procedure.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtubeThe flag -k indicates the preservation of data and cache (in case of return), and --user 0 means deletion for the main user. If the command is successful, the terminal will return a message Success. The application icon will disappear from the desktop, and in the settings it will be displayed as not installed.
The ADB command removes the application only for the current user. When you reset the phone to factory settings, YouTube will return to its place, since the system file was not physically erased.
Full removal using root access and file managers
For those who want to free up space on the system partition forever, there is a method using rights SuperSU or Magisk. Obtaining root access to Honor 9 is a complex procedure that requires unlocking the bootloader (which has been officially closed by the manufacturer since 2018) and installing a custom recovery.
If your device already has superuser rights, the process is simplified to working with a file manager that supports access to the system root, for example Root Explorer or MT Manager. You will need to mount the partition /system in recording mode (R/W).
Directory navigation must be extremely accurate. System applications are often located in /system/app or /system/priv-appfolders. In the case of Google services, the YouTube application may be located in a separate subfolder inside priv-app.
| Location | Description of contents | Risk of deletion |
|---|---|---|
/system/app |
Custom and some system applications | Low (when uninstalling third-party software) |
/system/priv-app |
Critical system services and Google applications | High (can disrupt the operation of the OS) |
/data/app |
Updates and user settings | Medium (restored upon reset) |
/system/vendor |
Drivers and specific software from the manufacturer | Critical (high risk of failure) |
Having found the folder with the name YouTube or file YouTube.apk, you can delete it. The system will ask you to confirm your superuser rights. After uninstalling, be sure to restart your device. If during the deletion process you touch dependent libraries, the smartphone may not boot beyond the manufacturer's logo.
⚠️ Attention: Before deleting files from
/system/priv-appBe sure to copy them to your internal memory or computer. Restoring a deleted system file without access to the system is only possible through Recovery or Fastboot mode.
An alternative to manually deleting files is to use specialized uninstaller applications, such as System App Remover. They automatically detect the system status and offer secure removal, creating a backup before operation. This reduces the likelihood of human error when working with the file structure.
What to do if the phone goes into an endless reboot?
If Honor 9 does not boot after deleting system files, you need to enter Recovery mode (by holding the Volume Up + Power buttons). From there you can try to make a wipe cache partition. If it doesn’t help, you will need to reflash the device via a computer with the loss of all data.
Alternative clients and replacement of functionality
Removing an official application is often dictated by the desire to get rid of advertising, tracking or a heavy interface. However, the video viewing functionality itself remains in demand. The market offers many alternative clients that work based on the YouTube API, but do not have the disadvantages of the original.
One of the most popular solutions is an open source project that provides access to video hosting without unnecessary water and with the ability to play in the background. Such applications do not require Google services for basic operation, which makes them ideal candidates for installation after uninstalling the stock client.
- 🚀 New interface: Many alternatives offer a lighter and faster design that consumes less RAM Honor 9.
- 🚫 Ad blocking: Built-in filters remove banners and video inserts, saving traffic and time user.
- 🌙 Dark theme: Advanced design settings, often more flexible than in the official application.
It is worth noting that the use of unofficial clients may violate the terms of video hosting services. A Google account may be temporarily restricted from accessing the API due to suspicious activity, although in practice this rarely happens with moderate use.
Installation of such applications is carried out by downloading APK files from trusted repositories, since they are not available in the official store. Google Play. Before installation, you must allow installation from unknown sources in your security settings Honor.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
In the process of modifying the system, users may encounter a number of technical difficulties. The most common problem is an error in installing ADB drivers on a computer with an operating system Windows 10/11. The device may appear in Device Manager as an “Unknown Device” with a yellow icon.
To resolve this issue, you must manually update the driver to the folder path usb_driver from the Platform Tools. Sometimes it helps to disable driver digital signature checking when Windows boots. It is also worth trying a different USB port, preferably USB 2.0, since older smartphone models may not work correctly with USB 3.0 ports in debugging mode. Another possible problem is a message when trying to uninstall via ADB. This could mean that the app is critical to the current user or is protected by device administrator policy. In this case, it is worth checking whether corporate governance certificates or security profiles are installed.
Another possible problem is the message Failure [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR] when trying to uninstall via ADB. This could mean that the app is critical to the current user or is protected by device administrator policy. In this case, it is worth checking whether corporate governance certificates or security profiles are installed.
⚠️ Attention: Firmware interfaces and menu names may differ depending on the version EMUI and year of release of the security update. If you do not find the item described, use the search in your phone settings.
If, after deleting YouTube, the weather widget or Google voice search stops working, this indicates a dependency violation. In this case, the only option is to return the application. For the ADB method, just enter the restore command.
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.youtubeThis command will restore the package from the hidden system storage without having to download the installation file again. For the method with root access, you will need to restore the file from a previously made backup copy through a file manager or Recovery mode.
Using ADB is the “golden mean”: it allows you to remove the application for the user, while maintaining the ability to quickly restore with one command without flashing it.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will YouTube return after updating the system?
Yes, when updating the firmware over the air (OTA), the system partition is often checked for integrity. If you used the ADB method, the app may return as the original apk file remains on the system. If you physically deleted the file via Root, the update may fail or the file will be restored automatically.
Is it safe to delete YouTube for other Google apps to work?
In most cases, it is safe. Services Google Play and Google Maps work autonomously. However, some functions, for example, a voice assistant or integration with a smart home, may generate errors when trying to launch video content if they do not find the target application.
Is it possible to delete YouTube on Honor 9 without a computer?
Without a computer, this is only possible if you have root access and an installed file manager with access to system folders. Using standard Android tools, deleting system applications without a PC is impossible.
How much space will actually be freed up after deletion?
The application itself takes up about 150-300 MB in the system partition. The real gain in free space for the user will be minimal, since the section /system usually does not appear in the total available memory in storage settings. The main volume will be freed only if you have previously cleared the huge application cache.
What to do if the phone says “USB debugging is not available”?
Make sure that developer mode is activated. If the item is gray and cannot be pressed, connect the phone to a Wi-Fi network or mobile network - some versions EMUI require an active Internet connection to initially activate developer functions.