Debloat the NVIDIA SHIELD TV 2019
Android TV 11 · 34 apps on the list · tested on a real set
This SHIELD ships with NVIDIA usage statistics, crash reports and a feedback form, plus sponsored rows and partner app installs on the home screen. It also has the NVIDIA Games app, a network storage and file sharing service, a Google data-saver service, and several factory test and beta tools that a home owner does not need.
The list was run on a 2019 SHIELD TV on SHIELD Experience 9.2.4, and the owner chose to leave firmware updates off. A user who ran it posted a screenshot of the working setup, but it has not been checked on other units. TidyTV needs Network debugging turned on once. After that it turns the list off from your phone over Wi-Fi, with a backup first and nothing deleted.
Apps TidyTV can turn off on the NVIDIA SHIELD TV 2019
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.
NVIDIA and Google telemetry and feedback 9
- Anonymous usage statistics
com.nvidia.stats - Nvidia feedbackcrash reports and the "send feedback" form
com.nvidia.feedback - Log collector
com.nvidia.diagtools - Product registration
com.nvidia.shield.registration - Developer widget service
com.nvidia.developerwidget - Tegra profiler permissions
com.nvidia.tegraprofiler.security - Factory test
com.nvidia.factorysyschecker - Factory test mode
com.nvidia.factory - Input test viewer
com.nvidia.inputviewer
Sponsored rows, promos and auto-installs 6
- Google recommendationssponsored / "Top picks" rows on the stock home
com.google.android.tvrecommendations - Play auto-installs of partner apps
android.autoinstalls.config.nvidia - First-run promo
com.nvidia.shield.welcome - Accessory bundle offers
com.nvidia.factorybundling - Beta programme
com.nvidia.shield.beta - Beta programme
com.nvidia.shieldbeta
NVIDIA gaming leftovers 1
- "NVIDIA Games" app and row
com.nvidia.tegrazone3
Preloaded apps and services 5
- Legacy photo viewer
com.android.gallery3d - SHIELD as network storage
com.nvidia.shield.nas - Shield smbserver"Transfer files over local network" SMB share
com.nvidia.shield.smbserver - SMB share authentication
com.nvidia.shield.smbauth - Google data-saver VPN
com.google.android.apps.nbu.smartconnect.tv
Personal choice (the owner's picks) 5
- Firmware updates OFF by choice
com.nvidia.ota - Control-panel updater
com.nvidia.NvCPLUpdater - OTA key combo
com.nvidia.KeyComboOta - Live Channels
com.google.android.tv - Backdrop screensaverAmbient mode; screensaver on that unit is Colors, so nothing breaks
com.google.android.backdrop - Kept: on-device speech your call
com.google.android.speech.pumpkin - Chromecast built-in your callkept: Chromecast built-in
com.google.android.apps.mediashell - Kept: Alexa / Google Home control your call
com.nvidia.shield.ask - Kept: SHIELD TV phone remote app your call
com.nvidia.shield.remote.server - Kept: Prime Video your call
com.amazon.amazonvideo.livingroom.nvidia - Netflix your callkept
com.netflix.ninja - YouTube your callkept
com.google.android.youtube.tv - YouTube Music your callkept
com.google.android.youtube.tvmusic
Idle stubs 7
no RAM saved, disabled for tidiness; nothing broke across a reboot
- Dynamic System Updates
com.android.dynsystem - Passpoint hotspot sign-in
com.android.hotspot2.osulogin - Bluetooth MIDI
com.android.bluetoothmidiservice - CTS test shim
com.android.cts.ctsshim - CTS test shim
com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim - Runs once at first boot
com.google.android.onetimeinitializer - Wallpaper backup agent
com.android.wallpaperbackup - Google Feedback your call
com.google.android.feedback - Partnersetup your call
com.google.android.partnersetup - Nvidia benchmarkblocker your call
com.nvidia.benchmarkblocker
Stock Android TV launcher 1
disabling it is what hands Home to the replacement launcher
- Android TV home screen
com.google.android.tvlauncher
What always stays on
- Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video, which stay installed
- Google Assistant, its hotword and the on-device speech service behind the mic button
- Alexa and Google Home control, and the SHIELD phone remote app
- Chromecast built-in
- Bluetooth pairing, controller mapping and the infrared remote services
Good to know on this model
- Firmware updates are switched off by this list, along with NVIDIA's update helpers. NVIDIA still sends security patches, so switch the updates back on before you contact NVIDIA support or if you want those fixes.
- A SHIELD Experience update can switch some of these apps back on. Run TidyTV again after one.
- Ambient mode (Backdrop) and Live Channels are switched off. If your screensaver is set to Backdrop, choose another one first, or the screensaver will stop showing.
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 NVIDIA SHIELD TV 2019?
Yes. Google Assistant, its hotword and the speech service behind the mic button are kept, and Alexa and Google Home control stay on.
Does casting still work?
Yes. Chromecast built-in and the SHIELD phone remote app are kept on purpose.
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 nvidia-shield-tv-2019 list in cleanyourtv by Gathin (MIT), tested on this model. TidyTV re-checks every app against its own protected list before each change.
Other NVIDIA models