Whether you can remove YouTube from a smart TV depends entirely on whether the app was pre-installed by the manufacturer or downloaded by you. Pre-installed YouTube apps often cannot be fully uninstalled, especially on newer models, but downloaded apps can usually be deleted like any other piece of software.
Can you remove YouTube from a smart TV?
The critical difference is between deleting a downloaded app and disabling a pre-installed one. If you added YouTube yourself from an app store, you can typically remove it with a few clicks. If YouTube came already on the TV when you bought it, you are usually limited to hiding it, disabling it, or uninstalling its updates. For Vizio users, the steps are brand-specific, so you can remove YouTube app from Vizio smart TV using a tailored method. This guide covers both scenarios for the most common smart TV brands.
How to delete the YouTube app on Samsung TVs
- Press the Home button on your remote.
- Select "Apps" from the menu.
- Navigate to the Settings gear icon and select "App Settings."
- Choose the YouTube app from the list.
- Select "Delete" to remove the downloaded app.
How to delete the YouTube app on LG TVs
- Press the Home button to open the home screen.
- Navigate to the YouTube app icon.
- Press and hold the middle roller button on your remote.
- Select the trash icon that appears to delete the app.
How to remove the YouTube channel on Roku TVs
- Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
- Highlight the YouTube channel using the arrow keys.
- Press the Star (*) button to open the Options menu.
- Select "Remove channel" from the menu.
How to uninstall YouTube on Android TV and Google TV
- Open the "Settings" menu from your home screen.
- Select "Apps" then choose "See all apps" (or similar wording).
- Find and select the YouTube app from the list.
- Select "Uninstall." If the button is grayed out, YouTube is pre-installed and cannot be fully removed.
What to do when you can't uninstall YouTube
When the Uninstall button is disabled, you have several alternative methods for pre-installed apps. You can disable the app entirely, which hides it from your app list and stops it from running. You can also uninstall updates to revert YouTube to its factory version, which often removes it from the home screen. Many platforms allow you to hide the app from the home screen without disabling it. Another option is using parental controls or restricted profiles to block access to YouTube or lock it with a PIN. This is also a common approach for removing apps from a smart TV that came pre-loaded.
Why you shouldn't root your TV to remove apps
Rooting a smart TV to force-remove pre-installed apps is not recommended because it voids the manufacturer's warranty. This process can also introduce security risks and potentially brick your television, leaving you with an unusable device. The alternative methods listed above achieve the same goal without these serious downsides.
For the wider topic, see removing apps from a smart TV.
