How to uninstall YouTube from your TV

The steps to remove YouTube from your TV depend on what kind of TV you have and how YouTube is installed. If YouTube came built into your TV's operating system, you can usually hide it from your home screen without fully removing it. If you downloaded YouTube as a separate app, you can uninstall it completely. Smart TVs running Android TV, Roku, Samsung Tizen, or LG WebOS all handle removal differently, and the process takes less than a minute once you know where to look.

The most common reason to remove YouTube is to prevent accidental viewing by children, reduce clutter on your home screen, or free up storage space on older TV models. Removing it does not affect your YouTube account or any videos you have saved elsewhere — you can always reinstall the app later if you change your mind.

Key Takeaways

  • Built-in YouTube apps on most smart TVs can be hidden from the home screen without being fully uninstalled.
  • Downloaded YouTube apps can be uninstalled through your TV's app settings or app store, freeing up storage space.
  • Android TV, Roku, Samsung, and LG TVs each have slightly different menu locations for removing apps.
  • Uninstalling YouTube does not delete your account or affect YouTube on other devices like phones or computers.
  • If you cannot find an uninstall option, your TV likely has a built-in YouTube app that can only be hidden, not removed.

Removing YouTube from Android TV

On Android TV, go to the home screen and highlight the YouTube app icon. Press and hold the select button (usually the center button on your remote) until a menu appears. Look for an option that says "Remove from home" or "Uninstall." If you see "Remove from home," the app will disappear from your screen but remain on the TV. If you see "Uninstall," you can remove it completely.

If the menu does not appear when you hold the button, try this alternative: go to Settings, then Apps, then Apps again (the second option), scroll to YouTube, and select it. You should see an "Uninstall" button. Press it, then confirm when the TV asks if you want to remove the app. The process takes about 30 seconds.

Removing YouTube from Roku TV

On Roku, go to the home screen and highlight YouTube. Press the Options button on your remote (usually marked with a star or three horizontal lines). A menu will pop up with several choices. Select "Remove channel." Roku will ask you to confirm — select "Yes" to finish. The app will disappear from your home screen when ready.

If you want to reinstall YouTube later, you can add it back through the Roku Channel Store in the same way you would add any other app. Removing it does not affect your Roku account or any other channels you have installed.

Removing YouTube from Samsung TV (Tizen)

On Samsung TVs running Tizen, go to your home screen and find the YouTube app. Highlight it and press and hold the select button on your remote until a menu appears. Select "Delete" or "Remove." Some Samsung models show a trash can icon that you can click instead. Confirm the removal when prompted, and YouTube will be gone from your home screen.

If YouTube is a built-in app on your Samsung TV, you may only be able to hide it rather than fully uninstall it. In that case, look for an option that says "Hide" instead of "Delete." The app will no longer appear on your home screen, but it will still exist on the TV's system.

Removing YouTube from LG TV (WebOS)

On LG WebOS TVs, go to the home screen and find YouTube. Press and hold the select button (or the OK button) on your remote. A context menu will appear with options including "Remove." Select it, and the app will be removed from your home screen. If you see "Hide" instead of "Remove," your TV has a built-in YouTube app that cannot be fully uninstalled.

LG also allows you to manage apps through the LG Content Store. Go to Settings, then Apps, then App Manager, find YouTube, and select "Delete" if that option is available. This method works the same way as removing it from the home screen.

What to do if you cannot find an uninstall option

If your TV does not show an uninstall or delete option, YouTube is likely a built-in app that came with your TV's operating system. Built-in apps cannot be fully removed, but you can hide them from your home screen so they do not appear when you turn on the TV. Look for options labeled "Hide," "Hide from home," or "Remove from home" instead.

Another way to reduce YouTube's visibility is to rearrange your home screen so YouTube moves to the far right or bottom, where you are less likely to see it. Most smart TVs let you drag and drop app icons to reorder them. You can also check your TV's parental controls to restrict access to YouTube without removing it — this is useful if you want to prevent children from opening the app but do not want to uninstall it completely.

Freeing up storage space after removal

Uninstalling YouTube usually frees up between 50 and 200 megabytes of storage, depending on your TV model and how much cached data the app had stored. If your TV is running slowly or you are getting storage warnings, removing unused apps like YouTube can help. After you uninstall, your TV may take a few seconds to refresh — this is normal.

If you want to check how much space YouTube was using, go to Settings, then Storage or Device Storage, before and after uninstalling. You should see the available storage increase slightly. If your TV still feels slow after removing YouTube, other apps or system updates may be taking up space, and you may need to remove additional apps or perform a factory reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will removing YouTube delete my account or saved videos?

No. Uninstalling YouTube from your TV only removes the app from that device. Your YouTube account, subscriptions, watch history, and saved playlists remain intact. You can sign back in and access everything the same way on any other device, or reinstall YouTube on your TV later.

Can I hide YouTube instead of uninstalling it?

Yes. Most smart TVs let you hide apps from the home screen even if you cannot fully uninstall them. Use the "Hide" or "Remove from home" option instead of "Uninstall." The app stays on your TV but will not appear on your home screen unless you search for it or go into your app library.

What if I accidentally uninstalled YouTube and want it back?

You can reinstall YouTube through your TV's app store or channel store. Go to the app store, search for YouTube, and select "Install" or "Add Channel." The process takes a few minutes, and you will be able to sign in with your account when ready after.

Does removing YouTube free up a lot of storage space?

Uninstalling YouTube typically frees up 50 to 200 megabytes, which is modest on modern TVs. If your TV has very limited storage (under 8 gigabytes), removing unused apps can help. Check your TV's storage settings before and after to see the actual difference on your model.

Can I prevent my kids from opening YouTube without uninstalling it?

Yes. Most smart TVs have parental controls that let you restrict access to specific apps without removing them. Go to Settings, find Parental Controls or Security, and set a PIN to lock YouTube. Your children will not be able to open it without the PIN, but the app will still be available for you to use.