Android TV debloat: what to disable and what to keep
Last updated:
An Android TV debloat means switching off the preinstalled promo, tracking and demo apps that a maker ships, using adb on an unrooted set. Disable, never uninstall, one group at a time, and keep the services that run HDMI, the tuner and the remote. This guide shows what that looks like across our model lists.
Disabling is not uninstalling
Android lets you disable a package for your user with pm disable-user --user 0. The app stops running, stops updating and disappears from menus, but it stays on the system partition and can be switched back on. That is why a careful Android TV debloat never uses uninstall: a wrong disable is a one-line fix, while a wrong removal can leave the set stuck.
What 300 model lists have in common
We parsed 300 community-tested lists: 159 for Android TV and 104 for Google TV, with the rest on Fire OS or plain Android. The table shows how many lists contain each kind of group.
| Kind of change | Lists that include it |
|---|---|
| Tracking and telemetry | 76% |
| Ads, promos and recommendation rows | 73% |
| Preloaded apps and background extras | 56% |
| Voice and assistant | 19% |
Source: the MIT-licensed Gathin23/cleanyourtv lists, as of 26 October 2026.
The packages on the most lists
These are the ten packages that appear on the most lists, with the reason the maintainers give. Most are Google's own apps and services that many people never use: feedback reporting, Play Games, Play Movies, recommendation rows and setup leftovers. Maker-specific promo and tracking packages vary by brand, so they sit in each model's own list.
| Package | Reason given | Lists |
|---|---|---|
com.google.android.feedback | "send feedback" | 222 of 300 |
com.google.android.play.games | Play Games | 180 of 300 |
com.google.android.videos | Play Movies & TV | 128 of 300 |
com.google.android.tvrecommendations | recommendation rows for the stock launcher | 120 of 300 |
com.google.android.youtube.tvmusic | YouTube Music | 114 of 300 |
com.google.android.tungsten.setupwraith | its RecoveryActivity otherwise takes over Home | 111 of 300 |
com.google.android.partnersetup | partner-app attribution | 100 of 300 |
com.google.android.katniss | Google Assistant / voice search | 98 of 300 |
com.google.android.syncadapters.calendar | calendar sync | 82 of 300 |
com.android.printspooler | printing | 82 of 300 |
What an Android TV debloat should never touch
Lists mark some packages as load-bearing. The ones named most often are below. Disabling them can break HDMI, the tuner, Bravia Sync or the remote, depending on the brand.
com.google.android.apps.mediashellkept on 65 listscom.google.android.tv.remote.servicekept on 52 listscom.mediatek.*kept on 50 listscom.tcl.tvkept on 49 listscom.tcl.autopairkept on 45 listscom.tcl.tvinputkept on 43 listscom.google.android.katnisskept on 41 listscom.mediatek.tvinputkept on 37 lists
Maintainer notes also warn about side effects. One TCL list notes that disabling the Google voice search package also disables typed search on the stock home screen, and one Sony list notes that disabling a setup package gives the home screen back but can break built-in casting. Read the notes for your model before you start.
How to do an Android TV debloat in 5 steps
- 1Back up before you touch anythingConnect with adb and save the output of pm list packages and pm list packages -d to a file. The second command shows what is already disabled.
- 2Pick a list for your exact modelPackage names differ by maker and even by firmware. Use a list written for your model rather than a generic one.
- 3Disable, do not uninstallUse pm disable-user --user 0 for each package. Disabled packages can be switched back on with pm enable.
- 4Work in groups and test after eachDo tracking and ads first, then preloads, then voice. After each group check HDMI, live TV, your streaming apps and the remote.
- 5Turn debugging off when you finishSwitch USB and network debugging off again, because an open adb port lets other devices on your network control the TV.
Find the list for your model
The first group of every list is free to read. One payment of $9.90 unlocks all of them, with the keep list and copy-ready commands. See pricing or go back to the home page.
Frequently asked questions
What does Android TV debloat mean?
It means switching off preinstalled apps and background services you do not use, such as promo rows, viewing trackers, retail demo apps and maker analytics, so the TV is less cluttered and uses less memory.
Do I need root to debloat an Android TV?
No. Disabling a package for your user works over adb on an unrooted TV. Removing a system app completely does need root, which is why we only disable.
Will a factory reset undo a debloat?
Yes. A factory reset restores the original state, and a firmware update can also switch some disabled packages back on, so keep your list and rerun it after an update.
Can debloating make my TV faster?
Sometimes. One TCL list in our data reports free memory rising from about 557 MB to about 780 MB with the same apps open. Results depend on the model, so treat it as a possible benefit, not a promise.