The fastest way to remove YouTube from your smart TV

You can remove YouTube from your smart TV in two ways: uninstall the app entirely, or sign out of your account while leaving the app on the device. Most people uninstall it. The steps depend on what operating system your TV runs — Samsung, LG, Android TV, Roku, and Fire TV all have slightly different menus, but the process takes less than a minute on any of them.

If you want to keep the app but prevent anyone from using your account, signing out is faster. If you want it completely gone from the home screen and app list, uninstalling removes it entirely. Some TVs let you hide apps instead of deleting them, which is useful if you think you might want it back later.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstalling YouTube removes the app from your TV's home screen and app library, and takes about one minute regardless of TV brand.
  • Signing out of your YouTube account keeps the app on the TV but prevents anyone from accessing your watch history, subscriptions, or saved videos.
  • Samsung, LG, Roku, Fire TV, and Android TV all have YouTube pre-installed, but the uninstall button is in a different location on each one.
  • Some smart TVs let you hide apps instead of uninstalling them, which removes them from view without deleting them permanently.
  • If you cannot find an uninstall option, your TV may not allow removal of pre-installed apps — signing out is your only option.

How to uninstall YouTube on Samsung and LG TVs

On Samsung TVs, press the Home button on your remote to open the home screen. Find the YouTube app tile, then press and hold the select button (the center button on your remote) until a menu appears. Choose "Delete" or "Remove." The app disappears when ready.

On LG TVs, press the Home button, then navigate to the YouTube app. Press the Options button (usually marked with three dots or lines) on your remote. Select "Delete" from the menu. Some LG models show a "Hide" option instead — choosing that removes YouTube from your home screen without uninstalling it.

How to uninstall YouTube on Roku and Fire TV devices

On Roku, go to Home and scroll to the YouTube app. Press the Options button (marked with a star or asterisk) on your remote. Select "Remove channel." Roku will ask you to confirm — select "Yes" and the app is gone.

On Fire TV, highlight the YouTube app on your home screen, then press the Menu button on your remote (three horizontal lines). Select "Uninstall" and confirm. Fire TV removes it from your device when ready. If you later want YouTube back, you can reinstall it from the Appstore without losing any other settings.

How to uninstall YouTube on Android TV

Android TV is built into some Sony, Philips, and other brand TVs. Press the Home button on your remote and navigate to the Apps section. Find YouTube in your app list, then press and hold it until a menu appears. Select "Uninstall" or "Remove." If you see "Disable" instead of "Uninstall," your TV does not allow removal of pre-installed apps — you can only sign out of your account.

Some Android TV models let you uninstall through Settings instead. Go to Settings > Apps > YouTube, then select "Uninstall." The method varies slightly by manufacturer, but both routes lead to the same result.

Signing out of YouTube instead of uninstalling

If you want to keep the YouTube app on your TV but prevent access to your account, sign out instead. Open YouTube on your TV, then navigate to your profile icon (usually in the top right corner of the screen). Select "Sign out" from the menu. Your watch history, subscriptions, and saved videos are no longer visible on that TV.

This approach is useful if other people in your household use the TV and you want to keep your viewing private, or if you think you might want YouTube back later without having to reinstall it. Anyone can still use YouTube on the TV after you sign out — they just cannot access your account.

What to do if you cannot find an uninstall option

Some TV manufacturers, particularly older models, do not allow uninstalling pre-installed apps like YouTube. If you press and hold the YouTube app and no delete or uninstall option appears, your TV does not support removal. Signing out of your account is your only option to prevent access to your personal data.

You can also hide the app from your home screen on some TVs. Look for a "Hide," "Remove from home," or "Hide from launcher" option in the app menu. The app stays on your TV but no longer appears on the home screen, which is often good enough if you straightforward do not want to see it.

Preventing YouTube from reinstalling automatically

After you uninstall YouTube, it will not reinstall on its own. However, if you perform a factory reset on your TV, YouTube and other pre-installed apps return. If you reset your TV for any reason and want YouTube gone again, follow the same uninstall steps for your TV brand.

Some TVs also reinstall apps when you update the operating system. After a major software update, check your home screen to see if YouTube has reappeared. If it has, uninstall it again using the same method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling YouTube affect other apps on my TV?

No. Removing YouTube does not change any other apps, your internet connection, or your TV's settings. It only removes that single app from your device.

Can I reinstall YouTube later if I change my mind?

Yes. On most smart TVs, you can reinstall YouTube from your TV's app store (called the Play Store on Android TV, the Roku Channel Store on Roku, or the Appstore on Fire TV). Search for YouTube and select "Install." Your TV settings and other apps remain unchanged.

What happens to my YouTube account when I uninstall the app?

Your account is not affected. Your watch history, subscriptions, and saved videos stay on YouTube's servers. If you reinstall the app and sign back in, everything is still there. Uninstalling only removes the app from your TV.

Is there a way to remove YouTube but keep other Google apps?

Yes. Uninstalling YouTube removes only that app. Other Google apps like Google Play, Google Assistant, or Google Photos remain on your TV. You can uninstall them separately if you want.

Why does my TV not let me uninstall YouTube?

Some manufacturers lock pre-installed apps so they cannot be removed. If your TV shows "Disable" instead of "Uninstall," the manufacturer does not allow removal. Signing out of your account prevents anyone from accessing your personal data, even though the app stays on the device.