Most Android phones come with different built-in applications. While some can be very useful, others take up unnecessary space. For many people, one of those apps is YouTube. The app takes up around 175MB or more, which can double or triple depending on how you use it, so it’s no surprise that many users are looking for a way to remove it from their devices.
Since YouTube is pre-installed, removal/uninstallation is usually non-existent. Why are we telling you this? We want to get to the point and let everyone know so they don’t waste time looking for promising results/answers that don’t work.
Anyway, there is an alternative option: disable YouTube and uninstall the updates. You can disable the pre-installed YouTube app and uninstall any updates beyond the original factory state. That’s better than wasting precious space and receiving annoying notifications. Let us begin.
The Uninstall Alternative: How to Disable YouTube
In some cases, deleting YouTube from your Android phone is like deleting any other app. However, this method will not work for most phones. Why is that? Because YouTube is considered a system-level application, it cannot be removed completely. This is because Google powers Android phones and YouTube is a subsidiary of Google. The YouTube app comes bundled with Google search engine, Gmail, calendar, drive, etc.
Just because you can’t uninstall it doesn’t mean you have to use it. Those who do not use YouTube can disable it. When you disable an app, you remove it from the app screen and prevent it from running in the background. Although disabling an app does not remove it from your phone, it is still a good option if you want to save space and avoid unnecessary updates.
Here’s how to disable YouTube and remove its updates on your Android phone:
- Open your menu and go to “Settings” or select it from the top dropdown menu
- Select “Applications and notifications.”
- Tap on “See all ### apps.”
- Search and select “Youtube.”
- Select “Storage and cache.”
- Choose “Empty storage” and then “Clear cache.” These actions eliminate the space consumed. Otherwise, the data will remain while the app is disabled.
- Play the “vertical ellipsis” (three vertical dots) in the upper right corner and choose “Uninstall updates.” This action also eliminates the storage space consumed and the updates can be huge.
- Tap on “Deactivate.”
- You will see a message explaining the app and all features related to it will be disabled. Press “Deactivate” one more time.
- The app is now disabled and all updates, cache and user data have been removed to save space.
If you want to reactivate the app later, go back to the “Apps & notifications” section of Settings and enable it again.
Generally, any applications that you install yourself can be uninstalled. So if you downloaded the YouTube app for Android From Play Store, you can uninstall it. But if the app comes pre-installed, you won’t see the “Uninstall” button.
So if you don’t see the “Uninstall” button, it means that it is not possible to remove the app from your phone completely and it is probably not there. In such cases, the only thing you can do is to delete the user data and app data and then disable the app.
Rooting your phone
You can gain privileged control over your Android phone and customize numerous processes, including removing pre-installed apps by acquiring root access. However, it is generally not recommended to root your phone. First of all, rooting can make your phone unstable and cause irreparable damage if not done correctly. Secondly, rooting may void your warranty. In case something goes wrong, you will be on your own. Finally, gaining root access also bypasses Android security restrictions. This means that your phone will not be protected from malware.
If you still decide that you want to root your device, be sure to research the process thoroughly. Remember that the steps vary depending on the type and brand of smartphone. If you are not a tech expert, it is best to ask an expert for help. Also, don’t forget to install proper antivirus protection to defend against malware infections. If you continue rooting and change your mind after a while, you can always unroot your phone.
YouTube Uninstall FAQ
Here are the answers to more questions about YouTube on Android.
How do I recover YouTube after deactivating it?
If you disabled YouTube and want it back, you can re-enable the app. Here’s what you should do:
1. Open Settings on your Android device and tap Applications.
2. Tap Youtube at the end of the list.
3. Tap Light at the bottom of the page (some users may see Allow).
YouTube will now appear in your app drawer, where you can log in and watch all the videos you like.
What is the difference between disabling and deleting an app?
As mentioned above, disabling an app will not permanently delete it. But all the cached data, stored memory and app icon will disappear from your phone if you delete them. When you want to use the app again, you need to enable it in Settings instead of installing it from the Play Store.
When you delete an app, all traces of it disappear. Unlike a disabled app, an uninstalled app no longer exists on your phone. When you want to use the app again, you will need to reinstall it from the Google Play Store.
No more YouTube
Although YouTube remains one of the most popular video sharing platforms, many people do not use it. Since most Android phones come with the app, it is impossible to uninstall it without rooting the phone. If you don’t want to take risks, it is better to disable the app and prevent it from running in the background and wasting space.
We hope this article explains what you could do to delete YouTube on your Android phone.
How often do you use YouTube on your phone? What about other pre-installed apps on your Android? Tell us in the comments section below.
