21 Ad and Bloat Apps Off: Claude Code Cleaned Up an Android TV in an Afternoon
- Level Advanced
- Setup1–3 hrs (estimated)
- Evidence Some evidence
- CostNot stated in source
- No-codeNo
What they did
A developer handed Claude Code one long prompt and let it work on the real TV over Wi-Fi. It backed everything up, switched off 21 telemetry, ad-row and preloaded packages on a Xiaomi TV, built a clean Apple TV-style home screen and checked each step with screenshots from the TV. It's all reversible, and the repo is free and open source.
How it went
An ad-free home screen with your own 4-app dock, a list of what was disabled, and a restore script that puts the stock launcher back.
Worth knowing
- Needs an agent with a shell on a computer on the same Wi-Fi as the TV (like Claude Code on your laptop); a cloud bot can't reach your TV. Works on Android TV and Google TV only, not Samsung, LG or Fire TV. The 21-package count is from the Xiaomi example list; your TV will differ.
Prompt
Cleaned version rewritten from the source — not a direct quote.
I want to clean up my Android TV ([TV model]) and replace its home screen with a simple, ad-free one. Work on the real TV over ADB on my Wi-Fi, step by step, and check every change with a screenshot from the TV. Back up first: save the package list and settings and write a restore script. Sort installed packages into telemetry, ad and content services, background extras, preloaded apps and streaming apps. Disable (never uninstall) the first groups one command at a time. Before touching streaming apps, the voice assistant, Chromecast or updates, ask me with a checklist. Then build a small launcher with a dock for the 4 apps I pick, set it as home, and only then disable the stock launcher. Finish with the restore script and a short README.
Recommended
Try it in Grok Bot
- Copy the prompt (button below).
- Open Grok Bot chat and paste it. Replace any [bracketed] placeholders.
- Connect the listed tools (as needed) as connectors when Grok Bot asks.
- If the task repeats, ask: "Make this a daily routine."
Alternatives: the same prompt works in Claude Code, Claude, ChatGPT Agent, OpenClaw.
Set it up
Stack: Claude Code + ADB over Wi-Fi
- Read the original source for full context.
- Connect the tools your agent needs.
- Paste the prompt and replace [bracketed] placeholders.
- Run once manually and check the output before scheduling it.
Generic suggested steps, not from the source.
Evidence
Open-source repo (MIT) with the full prompt, tools, a working launcher and a per-TV debloat list; documented gotchas. New repo, no stars yet
Source: Web · 2026-10-17 · Verified by us: not yet · Report broken or outdated