Debloat the Sony BRAVIA VU31 4K

Google TV 14 · 27 apps on the list · tested on a real set

The Sony BRAVIA VU31 4K comes with Sony promo and help tiles, store demo modes, Android ad and personalisation services, Google setup and calendar leftovers, and streaming apps most owners never open. Its ambient photo screensaver uses about 46 MB of memory on its own, and this 2 GB TV still swaps memory after the list is applied.

The list was applied on two VU31 sets, in batches with a screenshot and a crash check after each. Home, Inputs and the kept apps worked on the first set, and Live TV and every HDMI and AV input played on the second. 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 Sony BRAVIA VU31 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.

Sony promos, store demo and help tiles 7

My BRAVIA promoscom.sony.dtv.promos
Sony Select app promoscom.sony.dtv.sonyselect
Dtv sonytabSony tab / partner content on the stock homecom.sony.dtv.sonytab
Shop democom.sony.dtv.multiscreendemo
Sony help tilecom.sony.dtv.smarthelp
Help guide contentcom.sony.dtv.helpguidecontents
Sony Pictures Core preloadcom.sonypicturescore

Ads and on-device ad personalisation (2nd) 3

Privacy Sandbox ad servicescom.android.adservices.api
Federated learning for ad/usage modelscom.android.federatedcompute.services
On-device ad personalisationcom.android.ondevicepersonalization.services

Google leftovers a TV never needs 8

Google Feedbackcom.google.android.feedback
Play Gamescom.google.android.play.games
RLZ install-attribution providercom.google.android.partnersetup
Runs once after first setupcom.google.android.onetimeinitializer
Calendar synccom.google.android.syncadapters.calendar
Printingcom.android.printspooler
Play partner auto-installsandroid.autoinstalls.config.google.gtvpai
Legacy photo viewercom.android.gallery3d

Screensaver 1

set `settings put secure screensaver_components com.android.dreams.basic/.Colors` first, or with the launcher installed its clock, com.gathin.tvhome/.ClockDream (2nd; runs in the launcher's process)

Ambient modeAmbient photo/art screensaver (~46 MB resident; ~80 MB PSScom.google.android.apps.tv.dreamx

Off by choice (owner does not use them) 7

Alexa (m2.seeds.iot), Chromecast, AirPlay, the phone remote and Assistant were kept on purpose.

Google TV storeGoogle TV / Play Moviescom.google.android.videos
Apple TVcom.apple.atve.androidtv.appletv
Crunchyrollcom.crunchyroll.crunchyroid
Sun NXTcom.suntv.sunnxt
YuppTVcom.yupptv.scope.tvapp
Analiti speed testcom.analiti.fastest.android
TalkBackscreen reader, off by choice (2nd)com.google.android.marvin.talkback

Launcher handover (2nd) 1

setupwraith is safe to disable before the launcher (launcherx keeps Home), but only once the Wi-Fi owner check above is clean.

Google TV setupsetup wizard; its RecoveryActivity claims HOME once launcherx is offcom.google.android.tungsten.setupwraith
Google TV home screen your calllauncher/build-and-install.sh disables the stock launcher itself, after Home has movedcom.google.android.apps.tv.launcherx

What always stays on

Live TV and the tuner apps, which play every HDMI and AV input
HDMI and AV inputs and the Input menu
Alexa, Chromecast, AirPlay, the phone remote and Google Assistant, kept on purpose
Sony's input menu and remote services, including the Input key

Good to know on this model

The Google setup wizard is in this list. Before turning it off, check the Wi-Fi network is not tied to it. On the sets tested it was safe, but a network joined during setup can be deleted.
Sony's eco dashboard app is turned back on at every boot, so its tile can still appear.

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

Does casting still work?

Yes. Chromecast and AirPlay are kept on purpose.

Will it stop the ads on the home screen?

It turns off Sony's promo apps, the Sony tab that adds partner content to the stock home, and the on-device ad personalisation services. The eco dashboard tile may still appear.

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 sony-bravia-vu31 list in cleanyourtv by Gathin (MIT), tested on this model. TidyTV re-checks every app against its own protected list before each change.