An ad-free Android TV
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
A guide to removing ads from Android TV using Projectivy Launcher, SmartTube, and ADB.
The author details a setup to eliminate ads from Android TV devices. The stack replaces the default Google TV launcher with Projectivy Launcher, YouTube with SmartTube (which includes SponsorBlock), and uses Wholphin as a Jellyfin client. Button Mapper remaps the remote's YouTube button to open SmartTube. A tutorial walks through disabling the stock launcher and YouTube app via ADB, enabling Projectivy as the home app, and granting WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS to Button Mapper for reliability. It also disables unused Google apps and speeds up animations. The setup has been tested on Chromecasts and a Hisense TV.
The guide includes a section on replacing the launcher and YouTube, as well as a note that everything is reversible.
What commenters are saying
Commenters broadly agree with the goal of removing TV ads, though some diverge on the method. Several express security concerns about the author's suggestion to hand the article to an AI agent to execute ADB commands, calling it risky. A theme emerges around buying "dumb" TVs: one camp argues that smart TVs are effectively subsidized by ad revenue, making them cheaper, while another counters that large monitors remain inexpensive. Pro-tips include never connecting a smart TV to the internet and using an external device like Apple TV. Users also note the difficulty of finding truly dumb TVs and recommend buying from commercial display suppliers or using TVs in "apps only" mode.