The complete guide to cleaning up an Android TV
· 2 min read
This is the complete route, in order. Each step links to the article that develops it.
Before you start: two checks
Is it an Android TV? If you have the Play Store and developer options, yes. If it is a Samsung on Tizen or an LG on webOS, none of this applies.
Do you know the exact model? The code from the sticker at the back, suffixes and all. How to find it.
Step 1: prepare the computer
Install the official Platform Tools. → Installing ADB
Step 2: enable debugging
Seven presses on Build, then switch on network debugging. → How to enable it
Step 3: connect
adb connect 192.168.1.45:5555
adb devices
Step 4: save the original state
This step is not optional.
adb shell pm list packages > tv-original.txt
→ Seeing what you have installed
Step 5: decide what to remove
Look your model up in the directory. If it is not there, use the general categories. → The first safe packages
Step 6: remove, one at a time
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.example.package
After each package, check:
- The remote responds.
- Volume works.
- You can switch HDMI source.
- Some app opens.
Step 7: if something breaks
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.example.package
Step 8: reboot and check properly
adb shell reboot
Use the television normally for a couple of days before calling it done. Some problems only surface after a full power cycle.
Step 9: switch debugging off
There is no reason to leave it on. Back to Developer options and turn it off.
Step 10: tell us
If you have closed out your model, send us the result. That is exactly how the directory gets built: somebody does it once and everybody after them is spared.
And if none of this fixes yours
The problem may be hardware rather than software. In that case, the route is letting the television be a screen.