The fastest way to block YouTube on your TV

The method depends on what device you're using. On a Roku, Fire TV, or Google TV, you can uninstall the YouTube app entirely from the home screen—press Options or Menu on the app, select Remove or Uninstall, and confirm. On a Samsung or LG smart TV, go to Settings, find Apps or Applications, locate YouTube, and select Uninstall or Disable. On Apple TV, press and hold the YouTube app icon, select Remove App, then Delete.

If you want to keep the app but prevent anyone from opening it, use your TV's built-in parental controls instead. This locks the app behind a PIN so only you can launch it. The steps vary by TV brand, but the setting is usually under Parental Controls, Content Restrictions, or App Lock in your Settings menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstalling the YouTube app is the simplest block if you don't need it at all—the method differs by TV brand but takes under a minute.
  • Parental controls let you keep the app but lock it behind a PIN, which works if other household members need YouTube but you want to control when it's used.
  • Smart TV parental controls usually live in Settings under names like Parental Controls, Content Restrictions, or App Lock.
  • If your TV doesn't have app-level blocking, you can restrict YouTube through your router or by changing your WiFi password.

Uninstalling YouTube on different TV brands

Roku TVs: Press Home, navigate to the YouTube app, press Options (the star icon on older remotes, or the three dots on newer ones), select Remove Channel, and confirm. The app disappears from your home screen when ready.

Fire TV devices: From the home screen, highlight the YouTube app, press the Menu button (three horizontal lines), select Uninstall, and confirm. If you change your mind later, you can reinstall it from the Appstore.

Google TV and Android TV: Press and hold the YouTube app icon on the home screen, select Uninstall or Remove, then confirm. On some models, you may need to go to Settings > Apps > YouTube > Uninstall instead.

Samsung smart TVs: Press the Home button on your remote, go to Settings, select Apps, find YouTube, and select Uninstall. Some older Samsung models may label this as "Remove" instead.

LG smart TVs: Press the Home button, go to Settings, select Apps, find YouTube, and select Delete or Uninstall. On webOS 5.0 and newer, you can also press and hold the app icon and select Remove.

Apple TV: Press and hold the YouTube app icon on the home screen until a menu appears, select Remove App, then Delete. You'll need to go to the App Store to reinstall it later.

Using parental controls to lock YouTube behind a PIN

Parental controls let you keep the YouTube app installed but prevent it from opening without a password. This is useful if you live with others who need YouTube but you want to control when it's accessible.

On Roku: Go to Settings > Parental Controls > Blocked Channels, select YouTube, and choose Block. You can also set a PIN under Settings > Parental Controls > Parental Controls PIN to prevent others from changing these settings.

On Fire TV: Go to Settings > Parental Controls > App Lock, toggle it on, set a PIN, then select which apps to lock. YouTube will require the PIN to open.

On Google TV: Go to Settings > Parental Controls, set a PIN, then select which content ratings or apps to restrict. You can block YouTube entirely or restrict it to certain age ratings.

On Samsung smart TVs: Go to Settings > Parental Settings > App Lock, set a PIN, then select YouTube from the list of apps to lock.

On LG smart TVs: Go to Settings > All Settings > Parental Settings > App Lock, set a PIN, then choose which apps to restrict.

On Apple TV: Go to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit > Require Codes, set a PIN, then go to Settings > Restrictions and toggle on restrictions for apps you want to block, including YouTube.

Blocking YouTube through your router or WiFi

If your TV doesn't have strong app-blocking features, you can block YouTube at the network level through your router. This prevents any device on your WiFi from reaching YouTube's servers.

Log into your router's admin panel (usually by typing your router's IP address into a web browser—check your router's label or manual for the address). Look for a section called Parental Controls, Content Filtering, or Access Control. Add YouTube's domain names (youtube.com, youtu.be, and m.youtube.com) to a blocklist, then save. YouTube will no longer load on any device using that WiFi network.

The exact steps depend on your router brand. If you're unsure how to access your router's settings, contact your internet provider—they can often set up content filtering for you without you needing to log in yourself.

This method has a drawback: it blocks YouTube for everyone on your network, not just your TV. If others in your household need YouTube on their phones or computers, this approach won't work.

What happens after you block YouTube

Once you uninstall the app, YouTube disappears from your TV's home screen and app menu. If someone tries to search for it in your TV's app store, they'll see an Uninstall button instead of Install, which means they can reinstall it if they know how.

If you use parental controls instead, the app stays visible but won't open without the PIN. The person trying to open it will see a prompt asking for the code.

If you block YouTube through your router, the app may still open but will show an error message saying it can't connect to the internet. The blocking happens silently at the network level.

Reinstalling YouTube if you change your mind

If you uninstalled YouTube and want it back, go to your TV's app store (called the Channel Store on Roku, Appstore on Fire TV, Google Play on Google TV, or App Store on Apple TV). Search for YouTube, select it, and choose Install. The process takes a few minutes.

If you used parental controls to lock it, you can unlock it by going back to the same parental controls menu, finding YouTube, and toggling it off or removing it from the restricted list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone reinstall YouTube after I uninstall it?

Yes, if they have access to your TV's app store and know how to navigate it. To prevent this, set a parental controls PIN on your TV so uninstalling apps requires a code. This stops anyone without the PIN from adding or removing apps.

Will blocking YouTube on my TV block it on other devices?

Only if you block it through your router. Uninstalling the app or using your TV's parental controls affects only that TV. Router-level blocking affects all devices on your WiFi network, including phones and computers.

What if my TV doesn't have parental controls?

Older or budget TV models sometimes lack built-in parental controls. In that case, uninstalling the app is your best option. If you need more control, blocking YouTube through your router works on any TV connected to WiFi.

Can I block YouTube on just certain times of day?

Most TV parental controls don't support scheduling. Your router may have a scheduling feature—check your router's admin panel under Parental Controls or Access Control. Otherwise, you'd need to manually enable and disable the block.

Will blocking YouTube affect other Google services on my TV?

No. Uninstalling the YouTube app or locking it with parental controls affects only YouTube. Google TV itself, Google Play, and other Google services will continue to work. Router-level blocking only affects YouTube's domains, not other Google services.