Debloat the Chromecast with Google TV 4K
Google TV 14 · 15 apps on the list · tested on a real set
The Chromecast ships with feedback and remote-usage logging, network diagnostics reporting and Google's Privacy Sandbox ad services. It also carries preloaded apps such as Google TV and Play Movies, a print spooler, and a Google ambient screensaver. Each one has its own switch in the app.
The list was applied to one unit. Everything kept on purpose still worked afterwards, including Google Assistant, Cast, the phone remote, the Play Store and Bluetooth. TidyTV turns these items off from your phone over Wi-Fi. It saves a backup first, switches each app off without deleting it, and stops if anything looks wrong.
Apps TidyTV can turn off on the Chromecast with Google TV 4K
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.
Telemetry, feedback and ads 4
- Google Feedback
com.google.android.feedback - Feedbackconsent
com.android.tv.feedbackconsent - Remote usage logging
com.google.android.tv.remotecontrol.logging - Network diagnostics reporting
com.google.android.apps.tv.netoscope
The next four are Privacy Sandbox / federated-learning Mainline modules 4
worked here, re-enable if the Play Store or Assistant misbehave.
- Federatedcompute
com.google.android.federatedcompute - Ondevicepersonalization
com.google.android.ondevicepersonalization.services - Privacy Sandbox ad services
com.google.android.adservices.api - Adservices api
com.google.android.ext.adservices.api
Preloaded apps 4
- Play Games
com.google.android.play.games - Google TV storeGoogle TV / Play Movies
com.google.android.videos - Printspooler
com.android.printspooler - TalkBackre-enable if you need the screen reader
com.google.android.marvin.talkback
Google ambient mode screensaver (replaced by the launcher's Clock screensaver) 2
- Ambient mode
com.google.android.apps.tv.dreamx - Backdrop screensaver
com.google.android.backdrop - Google TV home screen your call
com.google.android.apps.tv.launcherx
Stock home 1
launcher/build-and-install.sh disables launcherx itself once the new launcher is installed and verified, and restore.sh re-enables it; setupwraith has to go too on this firmware (see quirks), so it stays in the list for restore.sh to bring back.
- Google TV setupsetup wizard; its RecoveryActivity otherwise takes over Home
com.google.android.tungsten.setupwraith
What always stays on
- Google Assistant and voice search.
- Chromecast (the Cast receiver), so phone casting works.
- The phone remote service.
- The Play Store and Play Services.
- Gboard, the on-screen keyboard.
- Bluetooth.
- Remote firmware updates.
Good to know on this model
- The remote's YouTube button does nothing once the stock home screen is off. Fixing it needs a free key-remapping app and some one-time setup that this page does not cover.
- Google's Privacy Sandbox ad services are off in the tested set. If the Play Store or Assistant misbehave, turn them back on with their switch.
How to do it
- 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.
- Tap your TV in TidyTV Your phone finds the TV on the Wi-Fi. Tick "Always allow" and press Allow when the TV asks.
- Review, then tidy TidyTV saves a backup, shows these apps with switches, and turns off the ones you pick, checking each one.
Questions
Will the voice button still work on my Chromecast with Google TV 4K?
Yes. Google Assistant and voice search are kept on, so the voice button keeps working.
Does casting still work?
Yes. The Cast receiver is kept on, so phone casting works.
Can I get the old home screen back?
Yes. Restore everything turns every app back on and puts the old home screen back in one tap.
Source: the google-chromecast-gtv-4k list in cleanyourtv by Gathin (MIT), tested on this model. TidyTV re-checks every app against its own protected list before each change.