Debloat the TCL 55S470G
Google TV 12 · 29 apps on the list · tested on a real set
The TCL 55S470G comes with a Samba TV viewing tracker, TCL usage logging and account sign-in prompts, content and promos pushed to the home screen, a silent app installer, retail demo and hotel mode apps, and preloaded apps such as Alexa. Much of it is for tracking or promotion rather than for watching TV.
The notes come from one TCL 55S470G, which shipped with its tracking services switched on. Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV, Paramount+, Tubi, TCL TV+ and TCL Live are kept, as are AirPlay and firmware updates. TidyTV turns these apps off from your phone over Wi-Fi with a backup first, and nothing is uninstalled.
Apps TidyTV can turn off on the TCL 55S470G
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.
Batch 1: tracking and analytics 4
- Samba TV ACR front end
tv.samba.ssm.ui - Log capture and upload
com.tcl.logkit - Google Feedback
com.google.android.feedback - TCL account sign-in nags
com.tcl.usercenter
Batch 2: TCL content, ads and promos 6
- Tcl tclhome passivepushes TCL content to the home screen at boot
com.tcl.tv.tclhome_passive - TCL tweaks to Google TV home rows
com.tcl.partnercustomizer - TCL TIAS background service
com.tcl.interactive - Bundles a silent app installer
com.tcl.smartlink.core - TCL push messages and promos
com.tcl.messagebox - Silently installs partner apps
android.autoinstalls.config.google.gtvpai
Batch 3: retail demo, hotel mode, preloads 10
- Tcl exhibit
com.tcl.exhibit - Tcl esticker
com.tcl.esticker - Tcl hotelmenu
com.tcl.hotelmenu - E-manual
com.tcl.ocean.instructions - Tcl repairguide
com.tcl.repairguide - Tcl gamebarre-enable for the console game-mode overlay
com.tcl.gamebar - Tcl ui mediaCenterre-enable to play media from USB drives
com.tcl.ui_mediaCenter - Tcl UpdatePeripheralre-enable to update a TCL soundbar
com.tcl.UpdatePeripheral - TalkBack
com.google.android.marvin.talkback - Play Games
com.google.android.play.games
Batch 4 4
background services (off by choice: voice, Chromecast)
- TGuard cleaner / app manager
com.tcl.guard - Ambient mode
com.google.android.apps.tv.dreamx - Google Assistant
com.google.android.katniss - Chromecast built-in
com.google.android.apps.mediashell
Batch 5: preloaded apps (off by choice) 4
- YouTube Music
com.google.android.youtube.tvmusic - Google TV storeGoogle TV app (purchases/rentals)
com.google.android.videos - Alexa
com.tcl.smartalexa - Google TV phone-app remote
com.google.android.tv.remote.service
Needed for the custom launcher 1
Disable only AFTER launcher/ is installed (see README Troubleshooting).
- Google TV setup
com.google.android.tungsten.setupwraith
What always stays on
- Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV, Paramount+ and Tubi
- TCL TV+ and TCL Live channels
- TCL's Live TV and HDMI inputs
- AirPlay
- Firmware updates, which run through a TCL service that also does Samba TV work
Good to know on this model
- Samba TV also has to be switched off in the TV's own settings. Open Settings, Privacy, Samba Interactive TV, and untick every provider, since the main switch leaves them on.
- The TCL service that runs Samba TV is kept, because it also handles firmware updates. Turn it off only if you are happy to skip those updates.
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?
AirPlay is kept, but Chromecast built-in is off by choice in this list. Turn it back on in the app if you cast often.
Will the voice button still work?
Not as this list stands. Google Assistant and Alexa are turned off by choice, so turn them back on in the app if you use voice.
Will it stop the ads on the home screen?
It turns off TCL's pushed home screen content, its partner tweaks to the home rows and its message box promos. Google's own recommendation rows are not on this list.
Source: the tcl-55s470g list in cleanyourtv by Gathin (MIT), tested on this model. TidyTV re-checks every app against its own protected list before each change.
Other TCL models