After downgrading your device, you can debloat it even further and make it even faster (updated october 31, 2023).

This manual is written for use with a Windows (10 x64 PC) but you can use ADB on any device

Debloat Nvidia Shield TV 8.2.3 in 7 easy steps;

NO USB CROSS CABLE IS NEEDED, we can do all of this over LAN/Wifi.

1. Connect with ADB (over LAN/WiFi);
2. Install custom Launcher;
3. Remove all unwanted Nvidia packages;
4. Remove all unwanted Android packages;
5. Remove all unwanted Google packages;
6. Toggle or Remove PlayStore & services;
7. Remove more unwanted, choose yourself;
   Done, superfast device!

Terms

App = Application = Package = Program

Launcher = Homescreen = Desktop = Mainscreen

ADB = Android DeBugging = Sending Shield Command Lines to execute (no shell)

1. Enable ADB over Wifi and connect

ADB or ‘Network debugging’ is used over LAN/WiFi/WAN (extended manual here) or connect via USB (cross if needed).

1a. Enable ADB over Wifi, if not already

• Press MENU in Android homescreen

• Navigate to ‘Device Preferences’

• navigate, all the way down to ‘Developer options’

• Navigate to ‘Network debugging’ and turn ON

Take note of your displayed IP address 👉🏼

1b. Connect using adb.exe

• Open command prompt CMD (Administrator)
• And navigate to folder containing adb.exe (c:\tool\ in example)

cd c:\tool

• type command, and replace your IP address, and hit ENTER

adb connect [your-ip-address]

• on Shield: (always-) Allow ADB / Network Debugging

When “Always allow…” granting permission is selected, you can ALWAYS reconnect with your Shield from that (remote) device.

Android 11+ : Has a time-out of a week (I think), then adb permissions granted in the past, are automaticly revoked. Shield remembers forever.

ADB connection check

To confirm connection, use command

adb devices

If no device serial number is show (empty output), no device is connected. Try (re-)enabling Network-ADB on Shield in Android-Settings-Menu or try rebooting (Sony TV’s have this problem very often).

2. Install custom Launcher

TechDoctorUK has pointed me in the right direction to properly customize your homescreen
to your very needs, clean, smooth and no fekkin’ ads, ever!

💪🏼 Yay we can be ultimate rulers of our devices again 💪🏼

2a. Download files

Download WolfLauncher.apk + LauncherManager.apk 👉🏼

Download

~4MB

• and unpack both .apk-files to “c:\tool\Apps\” (following up downgrade guide)

2b. Install Launcher Manager & Launcher

Open CMD, navigate to c:\tool and copy/paste the following commands to install BOTH apps;

adb install Apps/WolfLauncher.apk & adb install Apps/LauncherManager.apk

2c. Authorize Launcher Manager

Launcher Manager needs authorisation to become ’the ruler of Launchers inside Android’ and overwrite the all new and improved superamazing galactic advertisement homescreen that you get when you have auto-updates turned on in your G-Account (Appstore -> Settings -> Updates) 🤔

Best to disconnect all (adb) for proper authorisation, this can be ‘a hassle’ at first attempt

adb disconnect

Open Launcher Manager on your Shield;

1. Press MENU 🎛️ and navigate to Apps

2. If needed; press ‘See all apps‘ 🤷🏼‍♂️

3. Navigate to ‘Launcher Manager‘

4. And ‘Open‘ the app

5. Pick ‘Enable Custom Launcher‘

5. Then select ‘Always allow…‘ and press ‘OK‘

Error?
Try rebooting, if needed, after installing Launcher apps and then try again;

Congratulations! When you press the Home-button on the remote you will see the Wolf Launcher.

Remove unwanted apps and services

November 1, 2023: Tested on Shield 2019, latest hardware models

Below is a list of ADB commands to uninstall a lot of apps and services, they will never (re) appear or update, EVER. This way your device is without telemetry or spies from Nvidia and/or Google.

Other packages &services have been properly named so you can choose wich ones you want to uninstall.

Just copy / paste the code from the grey areas into your command line, and hit enter

And no worries; re-installing any of the services is always possible!

For a complety clean device, use BATCH 1, 2, 3 and remove more (select youself) by line

Remove NVIDIA shit (per line)

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.ota
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.ocs
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.diagtools
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shieldtech.hooks
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.feedback
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.registration
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.SHIELD.Platform.Analyser
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.remote.server
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shieldtech.proxy
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.factorybundling
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shieldbeta
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.registration
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.nvcustomize
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.NvCPLUpdater
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.benchmarkblocker
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 android.autoinstalls.config.nvidia
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.hotwordsetup
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.enhancedlogging
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.ask
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.stats
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.appselector
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.beyonder.server
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.developerwidget
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.NvAccSt
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.remotediagnostic

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.ota & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.ocs & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.diagtools & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shieldtech.hooks & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.feedback & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.registration & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.SHIELD.Platform.Analyser & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.remote.server & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shieldtech.proxy & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.factorybundling & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shieldbeta & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.registration & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.nvcustomize & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.NvCPLUpdater & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.benchmarkblocker & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 android.autoinstalls.config.nvidia & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.hotwordsetup & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.enhancedlogging & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.ask & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.stats & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.appselector & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.beyonder.server & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.developerwidget & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.NvAccSt & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nvidia.shield.remotediagnostic

Remove unwanted Android shit (per line)

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.gallery3d
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.dreams.basic
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.printspooler
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.feedback
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.keychain
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.cts.ctsshim
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.providers.calendar
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.providers.contacts
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.se

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.gallery3d & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.dreams.basic & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.printspooler & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.feedback & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.keychain & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.cts.ctsshim & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.providers.calendar & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.providers.contacts & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.se

Remove unwanted Google shit

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.speech.pumpkin
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.tts
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.videos
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.tvrecommendations
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.syncadapters.calendar
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.backuptransport
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.partnersetup
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.inputmethod.korean
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.inputmethod.pinyin
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.inputmethod.zhuyin
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.tv
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.tv.frameworkpackagestubs
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.tv.bugreportsender
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.backdrop
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.leanbacklauncher.recommendations
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.feedback

! only remove two below; if other launcher is installed !

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.tvlauncher
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.leanbacklauncher

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.speech.pumpkin & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.tts & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.videos & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.tvrecommendations & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.syncadapters.calendar & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.backuptransport & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.partnersetup & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.inputmethod.korean & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.inputmethod.pinyin & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.inputmethod.zhuyin & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.tv & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.tv.frameworkpackagestubs & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.tv.bugreportsender & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.backdrop & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.leanbacklauncher.recommendations & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.tvlauncher & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.feedback & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.leanbacklauncher

Delete even more apps

By default, we can not remove these apps within Android settings menu. Some can be disabled but this takes too long setting up most of the time…

Remove Plex Media Server

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.plexapp.mediaserver.smb

Remove Netflix

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.netflix.ninja

Remove Amazon

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.amazon.amazonvideo.livingroom
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.amazon.amazonvideo.livingroom.nvidia

Remove YouTube Music

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube.tvmusic

Remove Google Play Games

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.play.games

Playstore & services

When not needed or wanting any (app-) updates or notifications from the Playstore (or its’ services) you can toggle (disable packages), or completely remove them from your device. Again; re-installing is always possible.

PlayStore holds three packages to work;

Toggle Playstore & services ON/OFF

PlayStore holds three services to work; ‘katniss’, ‘gms’ & ‘vending’

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.katniss & adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.gms & adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.vending

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.katniss & adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.gms & adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.vending

Remove Playstore & services

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.katniss & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.gms & adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.vending

❗️ Check your gmail security settings for ‘mdarcy’ ❗️

Fore some reason you grant “mdarcy” full permission to your account when setting up a Nvidia Shield, wtf?

Check your gmail security settings and REMOVE mdarcy from the list.

Google account security

Or use a dummy account for these devices…

1. go to security settings

2. select “mdarcy“

3. and remove privileges

Done. Full permission revoked

That’s it!

Your device is now running with the bare minumum of threads and processes.

Re-install

Optional re-installing is easy, follow command below, and edit your ‘[package-name]’ to specify;

adb shell cmd package install-existing [package name]

For example: the LED controller (green LED turns off when put in sleep mode when installed)

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.nvidia.shieldservice

Done! Ultrafast device;

😃 Enjoy 😃

four years later still the best (local-)streamer/player for your moneys’ worth

Except for the fact that AV1 codecs are on the way and the Shield DOESN’T support playback.

☕ Buy me a cup of coffee ☕

If the guides were helpful to you, you may always buy me a cup of coffee.