These days, most YouTube views come from handheld devices but, like with everything else, some users either don’t need the app because they use alternative solutions or don’t watch YouTube on their smartphones. If you are one of them and want to learn how to disable or uninstall YouTube on Android, we have the exact steps for you below.
How to uninstall YouTube on Android phones
On most Android skins (OneUi, MIUI, OxygenOS/ColorOS, etc.) you can either uninstall or disable YouTube. So the option is always there, as long as you know where to look. If you don’t use YouTube or use one of the alternatives (RIP, Vanced), you obviously don’t need the stock app.
There are some things to consider before you disable or uninstall YouTube on your Android. Opening YouTube links in browsers and other apps won’t redirect them toward the third-party YouTube app you are using. Links will open on YouTube Mobile in a browser. That’s at least my experience, even if the app (e.g. Vanced) has these links listed.
Other than that, there’s the question if you can use your Google Account to keep track of your subscribed channels but, still, many would agree that obvious advantages overshadow disadvantages by a long margin. Others will either put up with ads and lack background play capabilities or spend some money on a premium subscription.
But, let’s cut to the chase and get to the business. Here’s how to uninstall or disable YouTube on Android phones:
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps. Expand All apps.
- Select YouTube from the list. By default (A-Z sorting) it should be at the bottom.
- Open the app from the list.
- At the bottom, you should see Uninstall or Disable to either completely remove YouTube or disable it.
The difference between disabling and uninstalling an app is marginal but that’s just Android for you. Some Google apps (along with many OEM-provided stock apps) are stock apps. This means that users can’t remove them completely. At least, without using the ADB command line.
If you decide to enable YouTube, just find it in Settings > Apps and enable the app the same way you disable it. On the other hand, if the OEM allows you to uninstall YouTube and you removed it completely, you can get it again from Play Store or by sideloading an APK.
That should do it. Thank you for reading and don’t forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. As always, we look forward to hearing from you.
Editor’s note: This article was initially published in April 2022. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.
