Prepare the television
Once per television, without root: turn on the developer options, then network debugging. TV Slim then talks to the TV over ADB, the debugging bridge every Android TV ships with.
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Make the developer options appear
Open Settings → About, and press OK seven times on the build number. A message confirms you are now a developer.
The path, most of the time
- Google TV
- Settings → System → About → Android TV OS build
- Android TV
- Settings → Device Preferences → About → Build
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Turn on network debugging
In the developer options, turn on network debugging. Depending on the TV, it is called Network debugging, ADB debugging or USB debugging.
The path, most of the time
- Google TV
- Settings → System → Developer options
- Android TV
- Settings → Device Preferences → Developer options
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Start TV Slim on the same network
On a PC or a phone connected to the same network as the TV. TV Slim finds it by itself within a few seconds; otherwise, type its IP address, shown in Settings → Network. On the phone, you can also scan the QR code of the TV app.
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Allow the connection
On the first connection, the TV asks to allow debugging from this computer (or this phone). Tick Always allow and accept with the remote: it will not ask again, even after a reboot.
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Slim the TV down
Open Packages, pick a profile and click Apply. The confirmation lists the side effects before anything is sent, and every change goes to the log with the command that undoes it.
If something gets stuck
The TV does not show up
Check that the PC or phone is on the same network as the TV, not on a guest network: many routers isolate the devices of a guest network. Otherwise, type the TV’s IP address by hand.
No authorisation prompt appears
A prompt can stay hidden behind an app that was on screen. Press Back on the remote to bring it up. The TV shows one prompt at a time: while a hidden one is waiting, the next ones do not appear.
It asks for authorisation again after a few days
Android forgets an authorisation that has not been used for seven days, “Always allow” included. When the developer options offer to disable the ADB authorisation timeout, turning that on saves you from giving it again.
Unreachable while the TV is on standby
Many TVs cut their network on standby. Turn it on again, or install the TV Slim app on the television, which keeps it reachable during standby.
My TV only offers “Wireless debugging”
Wireless debugging on Android 11 and later, with a pairing code, is a different mechanism that TV Slim cannot open yet. You need classic network debugging, on port 5555.
Going back
In TV Slim, the Log undoes one line or restores everything. To withdraw a computer’s access to the TV: Developer options → Revoke USB debugging authorisations. And you can turn network debugging off once the debloat is done: it is only needed to connect.