Debloat the Philips R8G Google TV

Google TV 14 · 15 apps on the list · tested on a real set

The Philips R8G Google TV comes with a tracker that recognises what is on screen, store demo stickers, Android ad and personalisation services, partner content for the home screen, and a European red-button service that US broadcasts do not use. It also includes health data apps a TV never needs.

This list was applied in small batches, with a screenshot after each one. Home, HDMI, Live TV and YouTube playback were checked the same day. The list has not been used for days yet. TidyTV turns these apps off from your phone over Wi-Fi with a backup first, and nothing is uninstalled.

Download the free APK Star on GitHub

Apps TidyTV can turn off on the Philips R8G Google TV

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 4

Acr anokiacroptinAnoki ACR: fingerprints what is on screentv.anoki.acr.anokiacroptin
Store-demo sticker overlaycom.apps.esticker3
Feedbackconsentcom.android.tv.feedbackconsent
Google Feedbackcom.google.android.feedback

Android ad and personalisation services 3

Adservices apicom.android.adservices.api
Ondevicepersonalizationcom.android.ondevicepersonalization.services
Federatedcomputecom.android.federatedcompute.services

Manufacturer content 2

Leanbacklauncher partnercustomizerpartner config that injects apps and rows into the home screencom.realtek.leanbacklauncher.partnercustomizer
HbbTV red-button overlayscom.seraphic.hbbtv.app

Not needed on a TV 2

Healthconnect controllercom.android.healthconnect.controller
Connect backuprestorecom.android.health.connect.backuprestore

Off by owner's choice 2

Google AssistantAssistant / Gemini; the mic button does nothing without itcom.google.android.katniss
Ambient modeambient screensaver; point screensaver_components elsewhere or turn it offcom.google.android.apps.tv.dreamx

Stock home 2

Disable only after the new launcher is installed and set as home. WARNING: if Wi-Fi was set up during the first-run wizard, the saved network belongs to setupwraith and Android DELETES it the moment setupwraith is disabled; the TV drops off the network and ADB with it. It happened on this TV. Check first: `dumpsys wifi | grep -o 'cname=[^ ]*'`. If it is not android.uid.system, forget the network and re-join it in Settings > Network BEFORE disabling this.

Google TV setupits RecoveryActivity otherwise takes over Homecom.google.android.tungsten.setupwraith
Google TV home screencom.google.android.apps.tv.launcherx

What always stays on

Live TV and the HDMI and AV inputs, which run on Realtek TV services
The phone remote and the remote's firmware update service
The keyboards the TV needs for typing
Firmware updates and the USB media player, kept on purpose
Chromecast and the streaming apps, kept on purpose

Good to know on this model

Check the Wi-Fi first. If the network was joined during first setup, turning off the Google setup wizard can delete it, and the TV drops off Wi-Fi along with the phone remote. If that happens, join the network again in Settings.

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 it stop the ads on the home screen?

It turns off the partner customization that adds rows to the home screen, and the store sticker overlay. The stock home screen is also in this list, so a clean home screen from the app is the usual way to replace it.

Does casting still work?

Yes. Chromecast built-in is kept on purpose.

Will Live TV and HDMI still work?

Yes. The Live TV and input services are kept, and HDMI and AV switching were checked after the change.

Source: the philips-r8g-google-tv list in cleanyourtv by Gathin (MIT), tested on this model. TidyTV re-checks every app against its own protected list before each change.