Debloat the Sony BRAVIA XBR-65X900F
Android TV 9 · 30 apps on the list · tested on a real set
The Sony BRAVIA XBR-65X900F, a 2018 set on Android TV 9, ships with Samba TV, a viewing tracker that fingerprints what is on screen. It also has Sony and Google promo tiles, a content bar, retail demo apps, and remote support and telemetry agents. A group of apps most owners don't use, such as Works with Alexa and the USB media apps, is on the list too.
The list was applied and checked across a reboot. It stayed off, the stock home screen stayed in place, and HDMI and Live TV still worked. It has not been used for weeks yet. TidyTV turns these off from your phone over Wi-Fi, with a backup first and nothing uninstalled. Restore everything switches them back on in one tap.
Apps TidyTV can turn off on the Sony BRAVIA XBR-65X900F
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 6
- My BRAVIA promos
com.sony.dtv.promos - Sony Select app store/promo tile
com.sony.dtv.sonyselect - Sony Discover content bar
com.sony.dtv.discovery - BIVL content service list
com.sony.dtv.bivlinfo - Google recommendationsrecommendation rows for the stock launcher
com.google.android.tvrecommendations - 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 automation;
com.sony.dtv.b2b.vendorprotocol
Preloaded help apps 3
- Help tile
com.sony.dtv.customersupport - Dtv smarthelp
com.sony.dtv.smarthelp - I-Manual
com.sony.dtv.imanual
Off by choice on this TV 11
features the owner doesn't use. Comment out any you want.
- Google Assistant
com.google.android.katniss - Screen mirroring
screnmirroring.com - Networkapp wifidirect
com.sony.dtv.networkapp.wifidirect - DLNA renderer
com.sony.huey.dlna.module - Dlna renderersettings
com.sony.huey.dlna.renderersettings - Sonyericsson dlna
com.sonyericsson.dlna - Android TV phone-app remote
com.google.android.tv.remote.service - Japanese keyboard
com.google.android.inputmethod.japanese - "Works with Alexa" setup: Amazon login
com.sony.dtv.smarthomesettings - Media Player
com.sony.dtv.smartmediaapp - Music
com.sony.dtv.osat.music - Chromecast built-in your call
com.google.android.apps.mediashell - YouTube Music your call
com.google.android.youtube.tvmusic - Backdrop screensaver your callambient screensaver
com.google.android.backdrop
What always stays on
- Live TV and HDMI, through Sony's input app and its input services.
- The remote: pairing, the power key and the input service.
- Bravia Sync, which handles HDMI device control.
- The MediaTek services, which drive the tuner, Live TV and the timers.
Good to know on this model
- The sponsored banner at the top of the stock home screen, with Hulu and Apple TV+ promos, comes from Google's launcher. Turning off the recommendation rows does not remove it, only replacing the home screen does.
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 Sony BRAVIA XBR-65X900F?
Only if Google Assistant stays on. It is in the off by choice group, so leave its switch on in the app if you use the mic.
Does casting still work?
Yes, if you keep Chromecast on. It is one of the optional apps, so its switch can stay on while the rest are turned off.
Will it stop the ads on the home screen?
Partly. It turns off Samba TV, the recommendation rows and Sony's promo apps. The sponsored banner at the top of the home screen stays until the home screen is replaced.
Source: the sony-xbr-65x900f 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