TCL 40S5400A debloat list

About this TCL 40S5400A list

Header: TCL 40S5400A (40" FHD, S5400 series), EU unit: device C06, product C06_2K_GB, model "Smart TV".

Android TV 11 (SDK 30), build AR2101, TCL software V8-T221T05-LF1V325, security patch 2025-03-05. MediaTek MT9221 (ro.board.platform mt5867), 4x Cortex-A55, about 1 GB RAM (low_ram=true). Likely a good starting point for other TCL S-series Android TV 11 sets on MT9221. Stock launcher: com.google.android.tvlauncher (the restore.sh / build-and-install.sh default). Live TV app: com.tcl.tv. It also plays HDMI: it is the only handler of the passthrough-input VIEW intent the Inputs menu sends, and the remote's Input key opens its source picker. Inputs come from com.tcl.tvinput (2x HDMI, AV, tuner). Applied in three rounds on 2026-10-18 and lived with for one day so far (shorter than CONTRIBUTING.md asks; I'll report back if anything breaks). Rebooted after each round. Checked after the full list: launcher/ comes up as Home after a reboot, YouTube and Netflix open, switching to HDMI 2 (PS5) works, the remote's Input key opens the source picker. Checked after the first two rounds: Disney+, picture settings, the firmware update check. Not tested: casting from a phone (the Cast receiver is kept). Memory, PSS: stock tvlauncher 64 MB + 15 MB swapped vs 41 to 46 MB for my build of launcher/ (a few local changes); tvrecommendations about 20 MB, katniss about 52 MB (two processes). Known quirks on this firmware: - The stock launcher declares HOME priority 2, so `cmd package set-home-activity` alone does not take Home while it is enabled (Home still opens it). Disabling it, as build-and-install.sh does, is required. - com.tcl.usercenter (TCL account) is switched back on by the system at every boot. It stays idle, so it is left in the list. - com.tcl.ttvs is NOT text-to-speech: its activities are versionUpdateApp SystemUpdateActivity and NetworkUpdateActivity, i.e. the firmware updater. Keep it for OTA updates. - After a reboot the system can switch to the last HDMI source on its own (com.tcl.tv started by uid 1000 about 2 s after Home). Seen once; a PS5 on HDMI-CEC may be the trigger. Home brings the launcher back. - The photo screensaver (com.google.android.backdrop) used about 105 MB while running. Before disabling it, switch to the AOSP one: tools/tv.py 'settings put secure screensaver_components com.android.dreams.basic/.Colors' (restore: com.google.android.backdrop/com.google.android.backdrop.Backdrop) - screencap writes an empty file while an HDMI input is on screen. Press Home first. DO NOT DISABLE on this TV (kept and working): com.tcl.tv # Live TV app, plays HDMI, source picker on the Input key com.tcl.tvinput # TV input services for HDMI, AV and the tuner com.tcl.ttvs # firmware updater (see quirks) com.tcl.messagebox # carries a ttvs receiver (org.tcl.ttvs); kept to be safe com.tcl.system.server # remote-key plumbing com.tcl.tcl_bt_rcu_service # Bluetooth remote com.tcl.autopair # Bluetooth remote auto-pairing com.tcl.settings # picture/sound settings com.tcl.dashboard # "TCL HOME" tile; kept, only hidden in the launcher config com.tcl.suspension # Quick Panel; kept, not tested without it com.tcl.providers.config # reported to drop Wi-Fi on the 65C725; not tried here com.tcl.keyhelp # remote-key help/virtual keys; kept

Packages the TCL 40S5400A list disables

TCL account, promos and content (6)

Package	Note
com.tcl.usercenter	TCL account, re-enabled by the system at boot (idle)
com.tcl.guard	TGuard cleaner/support
com.tcl.partnercustomizer	promo rows on the stock home
com.tcl.waterfall.overseas	TCL web-video portal
com.tcl.esticker	store-demo sticker
android.autoinstalls.config.tcl.device	partner-app auto installer config

Google extras (6)

Package	Note
com.google.android.feedback	—
com.google.android.play.games	—
com.google.android.videos	Play Movies
com.google.android.youtube.tvmusic	—
com.google.android.syncadapters.calendar	—
com.google.android.tungsten.setupwraith	first-run wizard, setup already done

Stock home and its recommendation rows, replaced by launcher/ com.google.android.tvlauncher # launcher/build-and-install.sh disables the stock launcher itself, after Home has moved (1)

Package	Note
com.google.android.tvrecommendations	—

Off by choice on this unit: comment out what you use (9)

Package	Note
com.google.android.katniss	Google search/voice, keep for the mic button
com.google.android.tv.remote.service	phone-app remote (casting does not need it)
com.google.android.tts	Google text-to-speech, keep for TalkBack
com.google.android.marvin.talkback	TalkBack
com.google.android.backdrop	photo screensaver, switch the screensaver first (quirks)
com.tcl.ui_mediaCenter	USB media player, together with the next three
com.tcl.audioplayer	—
com.tcl.videoplayer	—
com.tcl.imageplayer	—

Apply the TCL 40S5400A debloat

Turn on Developer options on the TV (Settings → Device Preferences → About → press OK on Build seven times), switch on USB debugging and, if shown, Network or ADB debugging. Then, from a clone of the cleanyourtv repository on a computer on the same Wi-Fi:

export TV_HOST=192.168.1.50   # your TV's IP address
tools/venv/bin/python -I tools/tv.py --probe
tools/disable.sh examples/tcl-40s5400a/debloat.txt

Then build and install the clean launcher, which makes itself the default Home and rolls back if it fails:

TV_HOST=192.168.1.50 launcher/build-and-install.sh

Prefer to let an assistant do it? Paste the cleanyourtv prompt into Claude Code with "TCL 40S5400A" as the model; it reads this list, checks each package on your TV and asks before anything that depends on your preferences.

Restore the TCL 40S5400A

TV_HOST=192.168.1.50 tools/restore.sh examples/tcl-40s5400a/debloat.txt

The restore script replays the state recorded before the change, so Home goes back to the launcher that owned it. More in the restore guide and the Android TV debloat guide.

Source: examples/tcl-40s5400a/debloat.txt in the MIT-licensed cleanyourtv repository.