Debloat the Artel smart TV (MT5863)

Android 7 · 10 apps on the list · tested on a real set

This Artel smart TV runs an older Android 7 build from the CVTE firmware family. It ships with preinstalled streaming and video apps, games and game clients, and accessibility and voice services that most owners never use. The list is short, at 10 apps.

The set has no Developer options, so debugging is switched on from a hidden factory menu. The TV then asks for permission after a restart. TidyTV turns the apps off from your phone over Wi-Fi, saves a backup first and never deletes anything. TidyTV turns these off from your phone over Wi-Fi, saves a backup first and never deletes anything.

Apps TidyTV can turn off on the Artel smart TV (MT5863)

Grouped as the tested list groups them. In the app each one has a switch, so you choose. Apps marked your call are extras the list leaves on.

What always stays on

• The Live TV and TV settings app
• The sign-in service the boot depends on
• The vendor home screen
• The remote and TV inputs

Good to know on this model

• There are no Developer options on this TV. Debugging is turned on from the full factory menu, and it comes back on at every restart.
• One sign-in service must never be turned off, because the TV then fails to finish starting.
• The firmware switches some vendor update and store apps back on at every boot, so they are not on the list. Hide them in the home screen instead.
• This firmware has no Live TV entry of its own, so the clean home screen opens the TV settings app for the tuner.

How to do it

1. Turn on developer options On the TV, open Settings › System › About and select the build number 7 times. Then turn on USB debugging, and Network debugging if you see it.
2. Tap your TV in TidyTV Your phone finds the TV on the Wi-Fi. Tick "Always allow" and press Allow when the TV asks.
3. Review, then tidy TidyTV saves a backup, shows these apps with switches, and turns off the ones you pick, checking each one.

Questions

Source: the artel-cvte-mt5863 list in cleanyourtv by Gathin (MIT), tested on this model. TidyTV re-checks every app against its own protected list before each change.