The fastest way to remove YouTube from your device
To delete the YouTube app, open your phone's settings, find the Apps section, locate YouTube, and tap the Uninstall button. The exact steps differ slightly between Android and iPhone, but both take less than a minute. If you cannot find an Uninstall button, your phone may have YouTube pre-installed as a system app — in that case you can disable it instead, which removes it from your home screen and stops it from running in the background.
Deleting the app does not erase your YouTube account or your watch history. You can still watch videos through a web browser, and you can reinstall the app later from the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone) without losing your account information.
Key Takeaways
- On Android, go to Settings > Apps > YouTube and tap Uninstall; on iPhone, press and hold the YouTube icon on your home screen and select Remove App.
- If Uninstall is grayed out, YouTube is a system app and you should tap Disable instead to remove it from view and stop background activity.
- Deleting the app does not delete your account, watch history, or subscriptions — those stay connected to your Google or Apple account.
- You can reinstall YouTube anytime from the Play Store or App Store without losing any of your account data.
Deleting YouTube on Android phones
Open the Settings app on your Android phone. Scroll down and tap Apps (sometimes labeled process Manager or Manage Apps depending on your phone brand). Look for YouTube in the list — you may need to scroll to find it.
Tap YouTube to open its details page. At the top or bottom of the screen, you should see an Uninstall button. Tap it, then confirm by tapping Uninstall again when the confirmation message appears. The app will be removed from your phone within seconds.
If the Uninstall button is grayed out or missing, YouTube came pre-installed on your phone as a system app. In that case, tap Disable instead. This removes the app from your home screen, stops it from running in the background, and frees up some storage space — the effect is nearly identical to uninstalling.
Deleting YouTube on iPhones
On an iPhone, find the YouTube app icon on your home screen or in your app library. Press and hold the icon until a menu appears with several options. Tap Remove App, then tap Remove from Home Screen if you only want to hide it, or tap Remove App again and confirm if you want to delete it entirely.
If you choose Remove App and confirm, the app will be deleted from your phone. If you only chose Remove from Home Screen, the app still exists on your phone but is no longer visible — you can find it again by searching in the App Library or by reinstalling it from the App Store.
What happens to your account and data
Your YouTube account, subscriptions, watch history, and saved playlists remain on YouTube's servers and are not affected by deleting the app. They are tied to your Google account (on Android) or Apple ID (on iPhone), not to the app itself.
When you reinstall the app or log back in through a web browser, you will see everything exactly as you left it. No videos, subscriptions, or account settings are lost.
Watching YouTube without the app
After you delete the app, you can still watch YouTube by opening any web browser on your phone and going to youtube.com. Log in with your account, and you will have access to all your subscriptions, playlists, and recommendations. The browser version works on both Android and iPhone.
Some features work slightly differently in the browser — for example, you cannot read videos for offline viewing, and the interface may not be quite as smooth as the app. But for basic watching, searching, and managing your account, the browser is a complete alternative.
Reinstalling YouTube later
If you change your mind and want the app back, open the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone), search for YouTube, and tap Install. The app will read and install in a few seconds. When you open it and log in, your account will be exactly as you left it.
You do not need to create a new account or set anything up again — YouTube remembers your login information and all your preferences.
Freeing up storage space
Deleting the YouTube app frees up storage space on your phone, though usually not a large amount. The app itself typically takes 50 to 150 megabytes depending on your phone model and how long it has been installed. If you are running low on storage, deleting apps you do not use regularly is one way to make room for photos, messages, or other data.
If you want to check how much space YouTube is using before you delete it, go to Settings > Apps > YouTube and look for Storage or App Size. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and find YouTube in the list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting YouTube delete my account?
No. Your account stays on YouTube's servers and is tied to your Google or Apple ID, not the app. When you reinstall the app or log in through a browser, everything will be there.
Can I delete YouTube if it came with my phone?
If YouTube is a system app (pre-installed by the manufacturer), you cannot fully uninstall it, but you can disable it. Disabling removes it from your home screen and stops it from running in the background, with nearly the same effect as deletion.
What if I cannot find the Uninstall button?
If Uninstall is grayed out or missing, the app is a system app. Tap Disable instead. This prevents the app from running and removes it from view, though it remains on your phone's system partition.
Do I lose my subscriptions and watch history if I delete the app?
No. Your subscriptions, watch history, playlists, and all other account data are stored on YouTube's servers, not on your phone. They remain even after you delete the app and are there when you reinstall it.
How do I watch YouTube after I delete the app?
Open any web browser on your phone and go to youtube.com. Log in with your account and you can watch, search, and manage your subscriptions just as you would in the app. The browser version has all the core features.