Smartphones series Redmi from the company Xiaomi are known for their excellent price-performance ratio, but the pre-installed software often raises questions among advanced users. In particular, the built-in application cannot be removed using standard methods through the settings menu, since it is a system component of the shell. This limitation often irritates those who want to free up space or get rid of intrusive advertising and activity tracking. YouTube cannot be removed using standard methods through the settings menu, since it is a system component of the shell MIUI. This limitation is often annoying for those who want to free up space or get rid of intrusive ads and activity tracking.
Model owners Redmi 9 face the same problem: the “Delete” button in application settings is simply missing or inactive. However, there are proven ways to bypass this limitation without violating the device's warranty and without obtaining root access.
In this article, we will examine in detail all the available methods: from simple shutdown to complete removal via a computer using USB debugging. You can choose the option that best suits your technical skills and needs.
Why you can’t just delete YouTube through the settings
The operating system Androidinstalled on Redmi 9divides all applications into user and system ones. User apps that you download from Google Playcan be removed easily and without consequences. System applications, such as the browser, phone book and video service YouTubeare protected from deletion to ensure the stability of the device.
The manufacturer Xiaomi integrates these services deeply into the shell MIUI. An attempt to forcefully remove such components without special preparation may lead to errors in the launcher or even to a cyclic reboot of the smartphone. That is why the standard settings interface hides the possibility of uninstallation.
However, the system allows you to perform the “Disable” operation. In this case, the application stops running, disappears from the menu and does not consume resources in the background, but its installation file remains in the device’s memory. This is a compromise option for those who do not want to connect the phone to the computer.
To completely physically delete a file APK you will need to use more complex tools such as Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method gives complete control over the system partition and allows you to get rid of any built-in software.
⚠️ Attention: Before any manipulations with system applications, it is strongly recommended to create a full backup copy of your data. Errors when removing critical components may require resetting the device to factory settings.
Method of disabling the application without using a PC
The safest and easiest way to get rid of the annoying video service on Redmi 9 is the forced stop and shutdown function. This method does not require connecting to a computer, installing drivers, or enabling developer mode.
Although the application file will remain in memory, it will be completely frozen: you will not be able to open it, it will not send notifications and consume RAM in the background.
To perform this procedure, you must go to the settings menu of your smartphone. Find the section responsible for managing installed apps. In different versions MIUI it may be called differently, but the logic remains the same.
Find it in the list YouTube and click on it. The application information screen will open, where control buttons will be available.
If the “Delete” button is grayed out, pay attention to the “Disable” button. Clicking on it will bring up a warning that other applications may not work correctly. In the case of YouTube this warning can be ignored, since this is an independent service.
After confirming the action, the application icon will disappear from the desktop and from the menu of all apps. To get everything back, just go to the settings again and click “Enable.”
After disabling the application, clear the cache in the same settings menu to free up a few megabytes of memory accumulated during use.
Full removal via ADB: Preparing the smartphone
For those who want to completely erase traces presence YouTube from memory Redmi 9, a method using USB debugging is required. This method requires a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux, as well as a USB cable.
The first step is to activate the hidden “For Developers” menu on your smartphone. By default, it is hidden from the eyes of the average user to prevent accidental changes to important parameters.
Go to Settings → About phone. Find the item MIUI version and quickly click on it 7-10 times in a row.
Once you see the “You have become a developer” pop-up message, you can move on to the next step. In the main settings menu, a new section “Advanced” or immediately an item “For developers” will appear.
Inside the developer menu, find the switch USB debugging and activate it. The system will warn you about security risks - confirm the action.
It is also recommended to enable the “USB Debugging (Security Settings)” option if it is available in your firmware version. This will allow the computer to emulate button presses and issue commands on behalf of the user.
☑️ Preparing Redmi 9 for removal
Instructions for removal via computer (ADB)
After preparing the smartphone, you need to configure the computer. You will need to download the package Platform Tools from the official website of the developers Android. This is a set of utilities that includes the necessary tool adb.
Unpack the archive into a convenient folder, for example, the root of drive C. Next, open a command line or terminal in this folder. Connect Redmi 9 to the computer with a cable.
A request for permission to debug from this computer will appear on the smartphone screen. Be sure to check the “Always allow” checkbox and click OK.
Enter the command adb devicesin the command line. If everything is connected correctly, you will see your device's serial number and status device.
Now you can proceed with removal. The command line allows you to remove applications for the current user (user 0) without affecting the system partition at the recovery level. It is safe and reversible if necessary.
Enter the following command to remove YouTube:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtubeAfter pressing Enter, the system will display a message Successif the operation was successful. The application will instantly disappear from the system. google.android.youtube is standard for all devices Android.
The uninstall command with the --user 0 flag removes the application only for your user profile, without violating the integrity of the system recovery partition.
Alternative methods and client replacement
If deleting a system application seems too risky for you, you can consider alternative use cases video content. There are many third-party clients for YouTubethat do not require installation of the official application and are often devoid of advertising.
One of the popular solutions is to use the web version of the service through a browser with installed ad blockers, such as AdGuard or extensions for Firefox.
You can also install modified clients, such as YouTube Vanced (or its successors, for example, ReVanced). These applications provide advanced functionality: playing in the background, disabling advertising and returning the dislike counter.
However, installing such apps requires downloading APKfiles from unverified sources, which carries certain security risks. Always check digital signatures and download software only from official project repositories.
| Method | Difficulty | Need a PC | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disconnection at settings | Low | No | The application is hidden, space is not freed |
| Uninstall via ADB | Medium | Yes | Full deletion, freeing memory |
| Third-party launcher | Low | No | The icon is hidden, the application works |
| root access | High | Desirable | Full control, risk of loss of warranty |
⚠️ Attention: The settings menu interface and item names may vary slightly depending on the version MIUI firmware (Global, China, EU). If you do not find the item you need, use the search in the settings.
Possible problems and solutions
In the process of deleting or disabling the application, users Redmi 9 may encounter a number of technical difficulties. Most often, the problem is that the computer does not see the smartphone in debug mode.
This may be caused by a faulty USB cable that only supports charging, but not data transfer. Try replacing the cable with an original one or a known good one.
Another common error is the message unauthorized when entering the command adb devices. This means that you have not confirmed the resolution on the phone screen.
Disconnect the cable, cancel all previous permissions in the developer menu and connect the device again. Carefully watch the pop-up window on your smartphone display.
If after deleting the application somehow appears again, check the auto-update settings in Google Play. The application store may try to restore a deleted system component when updating services. Google.
In this case, it is also recommended to disable auto-update for a specific package or use update blocking tools.
What to do if the phone has been bootloped?
If, after removing system components, the smartphone stops booting, you need to enter Recovery mode (Volume up + Power) and perform a factory reset (Wipe Data). This will return all deleted system applications.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to restore deleted YouTube via ADB?
Yes, it is possible. Since we used flag --user 0, the application was not physically erased from the system partition. To restore, just enter the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.youtube. After this, the icon and functionality will return.
Will deleting YouTube affect the operation of other Google applications?
No, YouTube is an independent application. Removing it will not affect the operation Google Play, Gmail, Google Maps or account synchronization. However, if you try to uninstall Google Play Servicesthe system will no longer function correctly.
Are root access required to uninstall system apps on Redmi 9?
No, root access is not required to uninstall apps for the current user. The method using adb uninstall --user 0 works on standard firmware without unlocking the bootloader and gaining superuser rights.
Will space be freed up in memory after disabling the application?
When you simply disable it through the settings, the space is freed up slightly (only user data and cache are deleted). The installation file itself remains on the system. Only deleting via ADB can completely free up space.
⚠️ Attention: Google and Xiaomi periodically update security policies and package names. If the standard package name does not work, check the current name in specialized forums or through package inspector applications.