Debloat the Sony BRAVIA KD-55XE8596
Android TV 9 · 28 apps on the list · tested on a real set
This 2017 UK Sony set runs Android TV 9 and Sony has stopped updating it. It ships with a viewing tracker that identifies what is on screen, Sony and Google content, ads and promos, a retail demo, telemetry and remote support, and hotel and business mode.
Home, Netflix, Jellyfin, Live TV and the HDMI inputs all kept working after every batch, and no new crashes appeared. It has not been lived with for days or checked across a restart. TidyTV turns these off from your phone over Wi-Fi, saves a backup first and never deletes anything.
Apps TidyTV can turn off on the Sony BRAVIA KD-55XE8596
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.
ACR viewing tracker 1
- Samba TV fingerprints what's on screen
tv.samba.ssm
Sony and Google content, ads and promos 7
- Sony Select app store/promo tile
com.sony.dtv.sonyselect - Sonyselect overlay
com.sony.dtv.sonyselect.overlay - My BRAVIA promos
com.sony.dtv.promos - Sony Discover content bar
com.sony.dtv.discovery - BIVL content service list
com.sony.dtv.bivlinfo - Sony tweaks to the stock home rows
com.sony.dtv.tvlaunchercustomizer - Google recommendationsrecommendation rows for the stock launcher; other
com.google.android.tvrecommendations
launchers' Watch Next and channel rows still fill 1
- Play auto-install of partner apps
android.autoinstalls.config.sony.bravia
Retail demo 3
- Dtv demomode
com.sony.dtv.demomode - Dtv demosupport
com.sony.dtv.demosupport - Dtv multiscreendemo
com.sony.dtv.multiscreendemo
Telemetry, remote support and feedback 6
- Sony device agent / remote support
com.sony.dtv.da.service - Qterics device agent
com.qterics.da.product - Dtv sonybugreportsys
com.sony.dtv.sonybugreportsys - Bugreportsender
com.google.android.tv.bugreportsender - Google Feedback
com.google.android.feedback - B2b vendorprotocolNode.js SDDP broadcaster for Control4-style home automation;
com.sony.dtv.b2b.vendorprotocol
Hotel / professional mode (unused in a home; the sony-bravia-4k-gb list leaves these alone) 4
- B2b hotelmode
com.sony.dtv.b2b.hotelmode - B2b prosettings
com.sony.dtv.b2b.prosettings - B2b importexport
com.sony.dtv.b2b.importexport - RS-232C control
com.sony.dtv.b2b.rs232csupport
Preloaded apps and leftovers 6
- Help tile
com.sony.dtv.customersupport - I-Manual
com.sony.dtv.imanual - Google TV storePlay Movies
com.google.android.videos - Play Games
com.google.android.play.games - Android TV home screenold Android TV launcher, no HOME activity on this build
com.google.android.leanbacklauncher - Printing
com.android.printspooler - Help your call
com.sony.dtv.smarthelp - "Works with Alexa" setup your call
com.sony.dtv.smarthomesettings - YouTube Music your call
com.google.android.youtube.tvmusic - Backdrop screensaver your callambient screensaver
com.google.android.backdrop - Chromecast built-in your call
com.google.android.apps.mediashell - Google Assistant your call
com.google.android.katniss - Android TV phone-app remote your call
com.google.android.tv.remote.service - Media Player your call
com.sony.dtv.smartmediaapp - Plays music from USB your call
com.sony.dtv.osat.music - Screen mirroring your call
screnmirroring.com - Networkapp wifidirect your call
com.sony.dtv.networkapp.wifidirect - DLNA renderer your call
com.sony.huey.dlna.module - Dlna renderersettings your call
com.sony.huey.dlna.renderersettings - Sonyericsson dlna your call
com.sonyericsson.dlna
What always stays on
- Chromecast, mirroring and DLNA
- USB media
- Google Assistant and the phone remote
- Live TV and the YouView layer for Freeview Play
- HbbTV, the red button
- HDMI-CEC, remote pairing and the TV inputs
Good to know on this model
- Live TV on this UK set hands over to YouView. Open the Sony TV app, not YouView, and keep both on.
- The home screen can ignore a new home screen setting until the stock one is switched off.
- The Internet Browser tile is the only part of the HbbTV layer that is hidden.
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 red button still work?
Yes. The HbbTV layer is kept, and only its Internet Browser tile is hidden.
Will the voice button and casting still work?
Yes. Google Assistant, Chromecast, mirroring and DLNA are kept on this set.
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-kd-55xe8596 list in cleanyourtv by Gathin (MIT), tested on this model. TidyTV re-checks every app against its own protected list before each change.
Other Sony models