A growing number of Android TV owners are bypassing the platform's built-in advertising and default interface by installing third-party tools that replace the home screen and YouTube application.

The effort centers on eliminating the persistent banner that appears at the top of the Google TV home screen, which promotes content selected by Google. While Android TV includes an "Apps only" mode intended to hide promotional elements, users report that the banner persists and cannot be disabled through standard settings.

One solution involves replacing the default launcher with Projectivy, a customizable home screen application that displays only installed apps. Another component, SmartTube, provides an ad-free alternative to the official YouTube app, incorporating features such as SponsorBlock to skip sponsored segments. Users who wish to continue supporting content creators may maintain YouTube Premium subscriptions while using SmartTube as the primary interface.

Additional tools in the setup include Wholphin, a client for Jellyfin media servers, and Button Mapper, which remaps remote control buttons to launch preferred applications. The configuration process requires technical steps, including enabling developer options, establishing ADB connections, and executing command-line operations to disable system components and assign functionality to remote controls.

The installation sequence begins with sideloading SmartTube via Downloader and obtaining Projectivy, Wholphin, and Button Mapper from the Play Store. ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is used to interact with the device, with commands varying based on whether wireless debugging is available. Users must disable the stock launcher and its associated services before setting Projectivy as the default home application.

To remove the official YouTube application, users execute an uninstall command; if the app is embedded in firmware, a user-specific uninstall command is recommended. Accessibility services are then configured to allow Button Mapper to function persistently, with additional steps to prevent the system from disabling these services or restricting battery usage.

Performance adjustments include reducing animation scales and disabling unused Google applications to improve responsiveness. The entire configuration can be reversed using standard ADB commands to re-enable disabled components.

This setup has been implemented on multiple devices, including Chromecast with Google TV and Hisense smart TVs, and is reported to function across various Android TV platforms. The approach reflects a broader trend of users customizing their devices to align with personal preferences for interface simplicity and ad-free viewing.