Debloat the Xiaomi Mi Box S

Android TV 9 · 22 apps on the list · tested on a real set

This Mi Box S ships with two tracking services. Alphonso reads app usage for ad tracking, and Mi analytics reads logs and app usage. It also has PatchWall, Mi Channel rows and Xiaomi web promos on the home screen, plus partner app auto-installs. The list also turns off an ambient photo screensaver, the stock home screen, and preloaded Prime Video, YouTube Music and Play Movies.

This box was tested on its own firmware and survived a restart with nothing switched back on. The home screen stayed in place, and free memory after a restart rose from about 770 MB to 1.15 GB. The remote's Netflix key still opens Netflix. TidyTV turns the list off from your phone over Wi-Fi, saves a backup first and never deletes anything.

Download the free APK Star on GitHub

Apps TidyTV can turn off on the Xiaomi Mi Box S

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.

Xiaomi + Google telemetry and ad tracking 4

Mi analytics: reads logs and app usagecom.miui.tv.analytics
Alphonso ad trackingtv.alphonso.alphonso_eula
Google Feedbackcom.google.android.feedback
Bugreportsendercom.google.android.tv.bugreportsender

PatchWall, content rows, promos, auto-installs 5

PatchWallcom.mitv.tvhome.atv
Mi Channel rows on the home screencom.mitv.tvhome.michannel
Xiaomi web promoscom.xm.webcontent
Google recommendationscom.google.android.tvrecommendations
Play auto-install of partner appsandroid.autoinstalls.config.xioami.mibox3

Xiaomi background services 2

Firmware and PatchWall updatescom.xiaomi.mitv.updateservice
Its download helpercom.mitv.download.service

Personal choice 2

voice assistant (the mic button stops working)

Google Assistantcom.google.android.katniss
Speech pumpkincom.google.android.speech.pumpkin

Personal choice: casting, mirroring and the phone remote 4

Chromecast built-incom.google.android.apps.mediashell
Mi castcom.mitv.milinkservice
Mi video playercom.mitv.videoplayer
Google TV / Android TV Remote phone appcom.google.android.tv.remote.service

Preloaded apps 3

Live Channelscom.google.android.tv
TalkBackscreen reader (was off)com.google.android.marvin.talkback
Printspoolercom.android.printspooler

Google Ambient photo screensaver, replaced by the launcher's Clock 1

Switch the screensaver first: tools/tv.py 'settings put secure screensaver_components com.gathin.tvhome/.ClockDream'

Backdrop screensavercom.google.android.backdrop
Prime Video your callcom.amazon.amazonvideo.livingroom
YouTube Music your callcom.google.android.youtube.tvmusic
Google TV store your callPlay Movies & TVcom.google.android.videos
Play Games your callcom.google.android.play.games
Camera2 your callcom.android.camera2

Stock Google TV launcher, replaced by launcher/ 1

Android TV home screencom.google.android.tvlauncher

What always stays on

The remote's Netflix key, which still opens Netflix
The remote's shortcut buttons and remote pairing, through Xiaomi's setup partner service
The Xiaomi TV server, which runs in the background
Bluetooth and the Amlogic system services
The setup wizard's remote pairing steps

Good to know on this model

USB debugging cuts power to the USB port, so a USB speaker or drive goes quiet while it is on. Turn debugging off when you are done.
The remote's second button used to open Live Channels. Once Live Channels is switched off, that button does nothing.
Set the screensaver to the clock before you turn off the Google photo screensaver, or the TV is left with no screensaver.

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 Xiaomi Mi Box S?

No, not with the default list. Google Assistant and the hotword service are switched off, so the mic button stops working. Switch them back on in the app if you use voice.

Does casting still work?

Not by default. Chromecast built-in, Mi Cast and the phone remote app are on the list. Switch them back on in the app if you cast from a phone.

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 xiaomi-mi-box-s list in cleanyourtv by Gathin (MIT), tested on this model. TidyTV re-checks every app against its own protected list before each change.