Debloat the TCL Smart TV Pro
Google TV 11 · 28 apps on the list · tested on a real set
This US TCL Smart TV Pro ships with TCL TV+ and a free channel app, one of which bundles Google's ad software. It also has TCL recommendation rows and promo messages on the home screen, a TCL analytics service, and a cleaner that tracks device use. The list covers retail store stickers, a photo screensaver, and several Google and TCL apps this owner does not use, including YouTube Music and Play Movies.
This list was contributed by a user who owns this model, and the notes flag one problem with the home screen. TidyTV turns the list off from your phone over Wi-Fi, saves a backup first and never deletes anything. Because of the home screen problem, the list does not confirm that a replacement home screen works on this model.
Apps TidyTV can turn off on the TCL Smart TV Pro
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 content, ads and promos 9
- TCL TV+ content app
com.tcl.tv.plus - TCL Live FAST channels
com.tcl.channelplus - TCL Channel
com.tcl.tv.tclchannel - TCL content "waterfall" recommendations
com.tcl.waterfall.overseas - TCL tweaks to Google TV home rows
com.tcl.partnercustomizer - TCL pushed messages and promos
com.tcl.messagebox - TCL account sign-in
com.tcl.usercenter - "TCL Home" panel
com.tcl.dashboard - Quick Panel
com.tcl.suspension
Telemetry and background services 2
- TCL BI/awareness/identifier services
com.tcl.ttvs - TGuard: "health info"
com.tcl.guard
Retail demo / store mode 1
- Tcl esticker
com.tcl.esticker
Preloaded apps and services 8
- E-manual
com.tcl.ocean.instructions - 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 gallery
com.tcl.gallery - Config gtvpai
android.autoinstalls.config.google.gtvpai - Google Feedback
com.google.android.feedback - TalkBack
com.google.android.marvin.talkback - Ambient mode
com.google.android.apps.tv.dreamx
Unused Google apps (owner's choice) 3
- YouTube Music
com.google.android.youtube.tvmusic - Play Games
com.google.android.play.games - Google TV storeGoogle TV / Play Movies storefront
com.google.android.videos
Voice, casting and assistants (owner's choice; comment out what you use) 5
- Google Assistant
com.google.android.katniss - TCL voice service
com.tcl.assistant - Assistant LED service
com.google.android.tv.assistant - Alexa
com.tcl.smartalexa - Chromecast built-in
com.google.android.apps.mediashell - AirPlay your call
com.tcl.airplay2 - Mediatek AirplayAPK your call
com.mediatek.AirplayAPK
What always stays on
- Live TV and HDMI, through the TCL TV app and its input service
- TCL's remote pairing and remote keys
- TCL settings and the TV's system plumbing
Good to know on this model
- The setup wizard claims the Home button. On this model, once the stock home screen is switched off, Home can land on a black screen that keeps looping. On one unit the wizard came back after a restart, so a replacement home screen is not confirmed here.
- The remote's Input key stops working once the Quick Panel is switched off. No other way to open the source picker is confirmed for this model.
- The list switches off the Ambient screensaver. Choose a clock or Colors screensaver before you turn it off.
- Re-enable the USB media player if you play media from a USB drive.
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 TCL Smart TV Pro?
Not with the default list. It switches off Google Assistant and voice search, so keep them on in the app if you use voice.
Does casting still work?
Only if you keep Chromecast built-in and AirPlay switched on in the app. The list switches both off by default.
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. On this model the replacement home screen is not confirmed, so check the home screen after the change.
Source: the tcl-g05-google-tv 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