De-Bloat and Block Ads on Your Google TV With These Two Apps!
One of the most common complaints about any Android TV or Google TV box is the sheer amount of bloatware pre-installed on the system. Between heavy background processes and advertisements splashed everywhere, the default experience can feel cluttered and sluggish. Fortunately, running Android means you have plenty of freedom to clean things up. Today we are looking at two applications that can completely transform your streaming setup, with one streamlining performance and the other replacing the bloated home screen entirely.
Streamlining and Debloating with Telescope
The first tool is called Telescope, and it is a utility you install on your phone to interface directly with your television. Because it is not listed on the Play Store, you will need to sideload it by downloading the latest APK release from its GitHub page. When opening the downloaded file on your phone, you may encounter a prompt restricting browser installations, which you can easily bypass by allowing the permission in your settings.
Before connecting your phone, you need to enable developer options on your TV box. Navigate to your quick settings, select all settings in the top right corner, and go into system and then about. Scroll down to the Android TV OS build and click the select button repeatedly until the system confirms you are now a developer. Return to the main settings menu, enter the newly unlocked developer options, and enable both USB debugging and wireless debugging, accepting any prompts that appear.
Next, open the Telescope app on your phone and tap continue to scan for local devices. If multiple devices appear, check your television box Wi-Fi settings to match the correct IP address. Once connected and approved via the on-screen TV prompt, you gain direct management control over your streaming box.
From here, you can instantly uninstall unwanted applications much faster than using the sluggish native TV interface. The app also features a dedicated debloat option tailored to your specific hardware, such as the Onn 4K streaming box, allowing you to automatically disable unnecessary background packages safely. Furthermore, Telescope includes a TV tweaks section enabling you to route your traffic through an AdGuard private DNS, effectively blocking ads and trackers across every app on the device.
Replacing the Launcher with Projectivy
Even after debloating your system, the default launcher remains plagued by unwanted banner advertisements and recommended content. Fixing this requires a second application called Projectivy Launcher, which you can easily download directly from the built-in app store on your TV.
Once installed, open Projectivy Launcher and step through the initial setup prompts. To make it your permanent home screen, click the settings gear icon and go into Projectivy settings. Under the general tab, change your default launcher to Projectivy Launcher and select it as default. Additionally, navigate to accessibility service settings within the menu, scroll down to Projectivy Launcher, enable it, and confirm the configuration prompt.
Pressing the home button now bypasses the stock interface entirely, landing you on a lightning-fast, ad-free screen populated exclusively by your installed applications. You can easily customize the layout, rearrange rows, and alter backgrounds to match your exact preferences. Pairing a clean custom launcher with deep system debloating delivers a remarkably snappy, distraction-free experience on virtually any streaming box or projector.
I've been using Projectivy Launcher on all of my Android TV boxes for a couple of years now, and I've even done it on my projectors. A lot of projectors that run Android TV are really underpowered, so they desperately need this speed boost. However, I have found that pretty much all of my devices can benefit from it for a much cleaner look. Now, I am adding Tellyscope to my devices to get in, debloat, and further improve my experience from there.
