Debloat the TCL BeyondTV2
Android TV 9 · 2 apps on the list · tested on a real set
The TCL BeyondTV2 sold in Latin America comes with a TCL analytics service and a content push that adds TCL material to the home screen at boot. The list is short on purpose. Most of the other preinstalled apps are needed for Live TV, HDMI, the remote or setup, and several streaming and ad apps were already turned off at the factory.
This list was tested on a real unit, with each app turned off on its own and a restart after each. A 24-point check covering HDMI, Live TV, Netflix, Assistant, the microphone, the Bluetooth remote, audio and crashes passed after every change. The list has not been used for days yet. TidyTV turns these apps off from your phone over Wi-Fi, with a backup first.
Apps TidyTV can turn off on the TCL BeyondTV2
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.
TCL analytics (telemetry) 1
- Analytics / telemetry service
com.tcl.bi
Content pushed to the home screen at boot 1
- Tcl tclhome passivepushes TCL content to the home screen at boot
com.tcl.tv.tclhome_passive
What always stays on
- Live TV, the HDMI 1 to 3 inputs and the Source menu
- The remote, Bluetooth pairing and key handling
- Voice: Google Assistant, TCL's assistant and its microphone manager
- Netflix settings, Chromecast built-in and firmware updates
- Setup screens and TCL's settings
Good to know on this model
- Turning these two apps off did not measurably speed up the TV in testing. They are off for less tracking, not for speed.
- Several UK and Australian catch-up apps, and the Stan app, are already turned off at the factory on this set, so the list does not need to touch them.
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?
Yes. Google Assistant and TCL's voice services are not on the list, so they keep working.
Does casting still work?
Yes. Chromecast built-in is not on the list.
Will it stop the ads on the home screen?
It turns off the TCL analytics service and the TCL content pushed to the home screen at boot. Other parts of the home screen are not on the list.
Source: the tcl-beyondtv2-latin-america 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