Smart TV owners use Claude Code to strip ads, tracking

Owners of Android TV and Google TV sets are using AI coding agents such as Claude Code to remove sponsored ads, tracking features and preinstalled apps from their televisions. Developers and hobbyists have been posting their prompts and tools on GitHub, TechCrunch reported on Monday, October 19. The trend shows how AI agents put hacking that used to take technical skill within reach of ordinary users. It comes as viewers grow tired of ads and of Automatic Content Recognition (ACR), the technology TVs use to identify what is on screen.techcrunch.com

Viral posts spark copycats

On October 17, Ryan Doyle posted that he sent Claude Code the listing for his TV and asked "can you hack this?" He said the agent then walked him through removing the ads and bloatware, speeding up the menus and customizing his screensaver. In a follow-up post, he showed a video of how fast the TV now responds.techcrunch.com

The same day, developer Gathin posted that Claude Code found his parents' TV on their Wi-Fi network, "removed 25 Xiaomi packages and wrote a new launcher." The set had been showing a sponsored ad before anyone could reach Netflix ↘ 4.85%, per TechCrunch. He published the prompt and launcher on GitHub as tv-vibehack, which was later renamed Clean Your TV, according to SaaSCity. Gathin said a few thousand people did the same thing to their own TVs over the next two days, including sets from TCL ↘ 10.64%, Sony and Fire TV.saascity.io+1

A second repository, dumbtv, promises "no ads from the TV itself, no watch tracking, no update you did not ask for." It has been tested on Amazon Amazon.com, Inc. ↘ 0.37% Fire TV and on Android-based sets from brands including Hisense, Philips and Nvidia ↗ 1.64% Shield, TechCrunch noted. It's FOSS reported that dumbtv turns off about 65 packages, including Amazon's ACR feature and advertising ID.itsfoss.com+1

How it works

The method uses Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a developer tool built into Android. The agent connects to the TV over the home network and switches off packages with a "disable" command rather than uninstalling them. Most setups then add a minimal launcher in place of the ad-filled home screen, It's FOSS explained. The method needs no root access and can be undone. Samsung Tizen and LG webOS sets use different systems and are not covered by these tools.itsfoss.com

Bricked sets and other risks

The tools are still works in progress, and results vary. Some users found that Claude refused simple requests to "hack my TV." Others warned that agents can disable important packages. One person said Claude bricked their Android TV, and another got stuck partway through on a Fire TV, TechCrunch reported.techcrunch.com

It's FOSS cautioned that uninstalling system packages can break the Home button or HDMI input switching. It also advised turning debugging off afterward and noted that many debloat lists disable firmware updates.itsfoss.com

If these hacks spread beyond enthusiasts, TechCrunch observed, they could disrupt a smart TV ad business that makes money from selling viewing data and showing personalized ads.techcrunch.com