Debloat the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro (2019)
Android TV 11 · 11 apps on the list · tested on a real set
The NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro (2019) ships with NVIDIA usage statistics, a feedback form and a log collector, and sponsored or Top picks rows on the home screen. It also has leftovers from NVIDIA's GameStream service, which closed in 2023, a legacy photo viewer and a print spooler. Partner apps are auto-installed by Play after setup, and the list can stop that too.
This list was tested on SHIELD Experience 9.2.4, and its package names were also checked on 9.2.2. The stock home screen change stayed in place across a reboot. The remote, controllers, Bluetooth, Watch Next and Live Channels are left alone. TidyTV turns these apps off from your phone over the same Wi-Fi, after saving a backup, and deletes nothing.
Apps TidyTV can turn off on the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro (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 4
- Anonymous usage statistics
com.nvidia.stats - Nvidia feedbackcrash reports and the "send feedback" form
com.nvidia.feedback - Log collector
com.nvidia.diagtools - Google Feedback
com.google.android.feedback
Sponsored rows and auto-installs 2
- Google recommendationssponsored / "Top picks" rows on the stock home
com.google.android.tvrecommendations - Play auto-installs of partner apps
android.autoinstalls.config.nvidia
NVIDIA gaming leftovers (GameStream closed in 2023) 2
- GameStream receiver
com.nvidia.nvgamecast - "NVIDIA Games" app and row
com.nvidia.tegrazone3
Preloaded apps 2
- Legacy photo viewer
com.android.gallery3d - Printspooler
com.android.printspooler - Firmware updates your call
com.nvidia.ota - Google Assistant your call
com.google.android.katniss - On-device speech your call
com.google.android.speech.pumpkin - Chromecast built-in your call
com.google.android.apps.mediashell - Backdrop screensaver your callAmbient mode screensaver, see notes
com.google.android.backdrop - NVIDIA's in-game overlay your call
com.nvidia.osc - Shield smbserver your call"Transfer files over local network" SMB share
com.nvidia.shield.smbserver - Live Channels your call
com.google.android.tv - Play Games your call
com.google.android.play.games - Netflix your call
com.netflix.ninja - Prime Video your call
com.amazon.amazonvideo.livingroom.nvidia - Prime Video your call
com.amazon.amazonvideo.livingroom - YouTube your call
com.google.android.youtube.tv - YouTube Music your call
com.google.android.youtube.tvmusic - Shieldtech hooks your callmaps an Xbox controller's Guide button to Home
com.nvidia.shieldtech.hooks - Shieldtech proxy your call
com.nvidia.shieldtech.proxy - Shield nvcustomize your call
com.nvidia.shield.nvcustomize - Shield registration your call
com.nvidia.shield.registration - Nvidia shieldbeta your call
com.nvidia.shieldbeta - Nvidia hotwordsetup your call
com.nvidia.hotwordsetup - Nvidia factorybundling your call
com.nvidia.factorybundling - Nvidia benchmarkblocker your call
com.nvidia.benchmarkblocker - Nvidia NvCPLUpdater your call
com.nvidia.NvCPLUpdater
Stock Android TV launcher, replaced by launcher/ 1
- Android TV home screen
com.google.android.tvlauncher
What always stays on
- The remote, controllers and Bluetooth services, including pairing, the accessory screens and the controller mapper.
- Display, audio and AI upscaling: NVIDIA's display and audio services, and the Dolby audio service.
- Settings, the SHIELD service, updates, and Watch Next with Live Channels.
- Play Services, the keychain and the secure element service stay on. Some guides remove them, and some units were left soft-bricked afterwards.
Good to know on this model
- Backdrop is the default screensaver. Pick another screensaver first, or the TV is left with none.
- A SHIELD Experience update can turn some of these apps back on. Run the list again after an update.
- Reserve an IP address for the Shield on your router. Ethernet and Wi-Fi get different addresses, and the Shield can come back on either one after a reboot.
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?
Yes, if you leave Google Assistant on. It is an optional item on this list, and turning it off stops the mic button. Google's speech service is also optional, and turning it off breaks in-app mic buttons.
Does casting still work?
Chromecast built-in is an optional item on this list. Leave its switch on if you cast to the Shield, because turning it off stops that.
Will it stop the ads on the home screen?
It turns off the sponsored and Top picks rows from Google's recommendations service, and the partner app auto-installs. Those are the home screen promos the list covers.
Source: the nvidia-shield-tv-pro-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