The fastest way to delete YouTube from your TV

To remove YouTube from your TV, go to your TV's home screen, find the YouTube app, and select the option to uninstall or delete it. The exact steps depend on what kind of TV you have — whether it runs Google TV, Samsung's Tizen system, LG's WebOS, or another platform. Most modern TVs let you delete apps the same way you would on a phone: highlight the app, press and hold, then choose delete or uninstall from the menu that appears.

If you cannot find an uninstall option, your TV may have the app built into the system rather than installed separately. In that case, you can hide it from your home screen instead, which removes it from view without actually deleting the software underneath. The steps for hiding an app are similar to deleting one, but the option will say "hide" or "remove from home" rather than "uninstall."

Key Takeaways

  • Most TVs let you delete YouTube by highlighting the app on the home screen, pressing and holding the remote button, then selecting uninstall or delete.
  • If uninstall is not an option, your TV likely has YouTube built into the system, and you can hide it instead by selecting remove from home or hide app.
  • Google TV, Samsung Tizen, and LG WebOS all use slightly different menu names, but the process is the same: find the app, hold down, and choose delete or hide.
  • Deleting YouTube from your TV does not affect YouTube on your phone, computer, or other devices — each one stores its own copy of the app.

How to delete YouTube on Google TV

Google TV is the system that runs on many newer TVs from brands like Sony, TCL, and Hisense. To delete YouTube, press the home button on your remote to reach the home screen. Scroll right until you see "Apps" at the top, then scroll down to find YouTube in your app list.

Once you find YouTube, highlight it and press and hold the select button (usually the center button on your remote). A menu will pop up with options. Look for "Uninstall" or "Remove" and select it. The TV will ask you to confirm — select "Yes" or "OK" to finish. YouTube will disappear from your apps within a few seconds.

If you see "Remove from home" instead of "Uninstall," that means YouTube is a system app that cannot be fully deleted. Choosing "Remove from home" will hide it from your home screen, and you can still access it later through the full app list if you change your mind.

How to delete YouTube on Samsung TV

Samsung TVs use the Tizen operating system. Start by pressing the home button on your remote. You should see your apps displayed on the home screen or in an apps section. Find the YouTube app and highlight it with your remote.

Press and hold the select button (the center button) on your remote. A menu will appear with several options. Select "Delete" or "Remove." Samsung will ask you to confirm your choice — select "Yes" to proceed. The app will be removed from your TV.

Some Samsung models may show "Remove from Home" instead of "Delete." If that is the only option available, YouTube is built into your TV's system and cannot be fully uninstalled. Selecting "Remove from Home" will hide it from your home screen, but the app will still exist in the background.

How to delete YouTube on LG TV

LG TVs run WebOS, which has its own app management system. Press the home button on your remote to see your home screen. Look for the YouTube app among your installed apps — it may be on the main screen or in an apps folder.

Highlight YouTube and press and hold the select button on your remote. A small menu will appear. Look for "Delete," "Remove," or "Uninstall" and select it. LG will ask you to confirm — choose "Yes" to remove the app from your TV.

If you only see "Remove from Home" as an option, YouTube is a system app on your LG TV and cannot be fully deleted. You can hide it from your home screen by selecting "Remove from Home," which will keep it out of sight but still installed on your TV.

What happens when you delete YouTube from your TV

When you delete YouTube from your TV, the app is removed from that TV only. If you have YouTube on your phone, computer, tablet, or another TV, those copies remain untouched. Deleting the app does not affect your YouTube account, your watch history, your subscriptions, or any of your saved playlists — all of that stays in your account and will be there if you install YouTube again later.

After you delete YouTube, you will no longer see it on your TV's home screen or app list. If you want to use YouTube on that TV again in the future, you can reinstall it from your TV's app store (Google Play Store on Google TV, Samsung App Store on Samsung TVs, or LG Content Store on LG TVs). The reinstall process takes a few minutes and is free.

How to hide YouTube instead of deleting it

If you want YouTube off your home screen but do not want to fully delete it, you can hide the app instead. This is useful if YouTube is a system app that your TV will not let you uninstall, or if you think you might want to use it again without going through the reinstall process.

To hide YouTube, highlight the app on your home screen and press and hold the select button on your remote. Instead of choosing "Delete" or "Uninstall," select "Remove from Home," "Hide," or "Hide App" — the exact wording depends on your TV brand. The app will disappear from your home screen when ready, but it will still be installed on your TV. You can find it again by going to your full app list or by searching for it.

Troubleshooting: YouTube will not delete

If you cannot find an uninstall option for YouTube, your TV has the app built into its system software. Most modern TVs come with YouTube pre-installed as a system app, which means it cannot be fully removed. In this case, your only option is to hide it from your home screen using the "Remove from Home" or "Hide App" option.

If you see the uninstall option but it is grayed out or not responding, try restarting your TV. Unplug it from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for it to fully boot up. Once it has restarted, try deleting YouTube again. If the option is still grayed out, YouTube is likely a system app and cannot be deleted on your particular TV model.

Another reason YouTube might not delete is if your TV is in the middle of a software update. Wait for any pending updates to finish, then try again. You can check for updates in your TV's settings menu — look for "System" or "About" and select "Software Update" or "Check for Updates."

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete YouTube and then reinstall it later?

Yes. Once you delete YouTube from your TV, you can reinstall it anytime by opening your TV's app store (Google Play Store, Samsung App Store, or LG Content Store depending on your TV brand), searching for YouTube, and selecting "Install." The process takes a few minutes and is free. Your account, watch history, and subscriptions will all be waiting for you when you sign back in.

Will deleting YouTube from my TV delete it from my phone or computer?

No. Each device stores its own copy of the YouTube app. Deleting it from your TV does not affect YouTube on any other device. Your phone, computer, tablet, and any other TVs will still have YouTube unless you delete it from those devices separately.

What if I hide YouTube instead of deleting it — can I unhide it later?

Yes. If you hid YouTube by selecting "Remove from Home," you can unhide it by going to your TV's full app list and finding YouTube there. Select it and choose "Add to Home" or "Show on Home" to bring it back to your home screen. You can also search for YouTube using your TV's search function.

Does deleting YouTube from my TV erase my watch history or subscriptions?

No. Your YouTube account, watch history, subscriptions, and playlists are stored in your Google account, not on your TV. Deleting the app from your TV does not touch any of that information. When you sign back into YouTube on any device, everything will be exactly as you left it.

Why does my TV say "Remove from Home" instead of "Delete"?

Your TV has YouTube built into its system software, which means it cannot be fully uninstalled. "Remove from Home" hides the app from your home screen, but the app remains installed on your TV. This is common on newer TVs from major manufacturers — they come with YouTube pre-loaded as part of the operating system.