The fastest way to remove YouTube from your TV

To remove YouTube from your TV, go to your TV's home screen, find the YouTube app, and delete it—the exact steps depend on what kind of TV you have. On most smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, Fire TV), you highlight the YouTube app, press a menu or options button, and select "Remove" or "Uninstall." On Apple TV, you press and hold the YouTube icon until a menu appears, then choose "Remove App." If you're using a streaming device plugged into an older TV, you uninstall YouTube the same way you would on that device.

The process takes about one minute. YouTube will not reinstall itself unless you manually add it back, and removing it does not affect other apps or your TV's performance. If you want to hide YouTube without deleting it entirely, most TVs let you move it to a folder or disable it instead—this is useful if other people in your household use the app.

Key Takeaways

  • On Samsung, LG, and Sony TVs, highlight YouTube, press the menu button, and select "Remove" or "Uninstall" from the options that appear.
  • On Roku and Fire TV devices, navigate to YouTube, press the options button (usually marked with three dots or lines), and choose "Remove Channel" or "Uninstall."
  • On Apple TV, press and hold the YouTube app icon until a menu appears, then tap "Remove App."
  • You can hide YouTube without deleting it by moving it to a folder or using your TV's parental controls to disable it.
  • Removing YouTube from your TV does not delete your YouTube account or affect any other apps.

How to remove YouTube on Samsung TVs

On a Samsung smart TV, use your remote to navigate to the home screen. Scroll left or right until you see the YouTube app tile. Highlight it by pointing your remote at it, then press the menu button (usually labeled with three horizontal lines or dots on the remote). A dropdown menu will appear with options including "Remove," "Delete," or "Uninstall"—the exact wording varies by model year.

Select that option and confirm when the TV asks you to verify. The app will disappear from your home screen within a few seconds. If you do not see a menu button option, try pressing and holding the select button on your remote while YouTube is highlighted—this opens a context menu on some Samsung models.

How to remove YouTube on LG and Sony TVs

LG and Sony smart TVs use a similar process. Navigate to the home screen, find YouTube, and highlight it with your remote. Press the menu or options button (marked with three dots, three lines, or labeled "Menu" on your remote). Select "Remove," "Delete," or "Uninstall" from the menu that appears, then confirm the action.

On some LG models, you may need to press and hold the select button instead of the menu button to bring up removal options. On Sony TVs, the menu button is often labeled with three dots in the upper corner of the app tile. If you are unsure which button to press, check your TV's manual or the manufacturer's support website for your specific model number.

How to remove YouTube on Roku and Fire TV devices

If you use a Roku stick or box, go to the home screen and highlight the YouTube app. Press the options button on your remote (usually marked with an asterisk or three dots). Select "Remove Channel" from the menu. Roku will ask you to confirm—select "Yes" and the app will be removed.

On Fire TV devices (Amazon Fire Stick or Fire TV Cube), highlight YouTube on the home screen and press the menu button (three horizontal lines). Select "Uninstall" and confirm. The app will be removed when ready. Both devices will not reinstall YouTube unless you manually search for it in the app store and add it back.

How to remove YouTube on Apple TV

On Apple TV (4th generation or newer), navigate to the home screen and find the YouTube app. Press and hold the select button on your remote while the YouTube icon is highlighted. A menu will appear with options including "Remove App." Select that option, and Apple TV will ask you to confirm by pressing select again.

The app will disappear from your home screen when ready. On older Apple TV models (3rd generation or earlier), YouTube cannot be removed because it is built into the system—you can only hide it by moving it to a folder or scrolling past it on the home screen.

How to hide YouTube without deleting it

If you want to keep YouTube on your TV but make it less visible, most smart TVs let you move apps into folders or disable them. On Samsung and LG TVs, highlight YouTube, press the menu button, and look for an option like "Move" or "Organize." You can then place it in a folder with other apps or move it to the end of your home screen where it is less noticeable.

Another option is to use your TV's parental controls to restrict access to YouTube. Go to your TV's settings menu, find "Parental Controls" or "Restrictions," and disable YouTube. The app will remain installed but will require a PIN code to open. This is useful if children in your household use the TV but you want to prevent accidental access to YouTube.

What happens after you remove YouTube

Once you remove YouTube from your TV, the app no longer appears on your home screen and cannot be opened from the TV itself. Your YouTube account and watch history remain intact on YouTube's servers—removing the app from your TV does not delete your account or any videos you have saved.

If you change your mind later, you can reinstall YouTube by going to your TV's app store (called the Samsung App Store, LG Content Store, Roku Channel Store, or Amazon Appstore, depending on your device), searching for YouTube, and selecting "Install." The reinstallation takes about one minute and will restore access to your account with your watch history intact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will removing YouTube affect other apps on my TV?

No. Removing YouTube does not change any other apps, settings, or features on your TV. It only deletes the YouTube app itself. Your TV will work exactly as before, and all other streaming services and functions remain unchanged.

Can I remove YouTube from a TV that is not a smart TV?

If your TV is not a smart TV but you use a streaming device (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, or Chromecast), you remove YouTube from that device, not the TV. The TV itself does not have apps. Follow the instructions for your specific streaming device instead.

What if I do not see a menu button option when I highlight YouTube?

Try pressing and holding the select button on your remote instead of the menu button. On some TV models, this brings up a context menu. If that does not work, check your TV's manual for the correct button sequence, or visit the manufacturer's support website and search for your model number.

Can I remove YouTube from a shared TV without affecting other users?

Removing YouTube removes it for everyone who uses that TV. If other people in your household use YouTube, consider hiding it instead of deleting it, or using parental controls to restrict access with a PIN code rather than removing it entirely.

Does removing YouTube delete my watch history and saved videos?

No. Your YouTube account, watch history, playlists, and saved videos all remain on YouTube's servers. Removing the app from your TV only removes the ability to watch YouTube on that specific TV. When you reinstall the app, you will log back in and see everything exactly as you left it.