How it works
A few steps on the TV, about 10 minutes. Pick your device and you get its exact steps. Before any change we save an “as it was” copy, so every step can be undone.
Google TV 14. Wireless debugging with a pairing code.
Step 1 of 6
Open “About”
Open Settings with the gear icon in the top right corner. The model and the Android version are on this screen.
Settings → System → About
Step 2 of 6
Press the build number 7 times
Select “Android TV OS build” and press OK seven times. A message says that you are now a developer.
About → Android TV OS build × 7
Step 3 of 6
Open “Developer options”
Go back one level. A new item appears in the System menu.
Settings → System → Developer options
Step 4 of 6
Turn on wireless debugging
Switch it on. The TV and your phone or computer must be on the same Wi-Fi network.
Developer options → Wireless debugging → On
Step 5 of 6
Open the pairing code
The TV shows 6 digits and a port. You enter them in ReTV on the next screen.
Wireless debugging → Pair device with pairing code
Step 6 of 6
Allow debugging
If the TV asks “Allow USB debugging?”, tick “Always allow” and press OK. We turn debugging off after the work.
“Allow USB debugging?” dialog → OK
Ways to connect
They all do the same thing. The difference is how the TV reaches the site.
Cable: a computer with Chrome
The TV or box connects to a computer with a USB cable, and the site works with it right from Chrome. Nothing to install. A TV’s USB ports usually take flash drives only, so this suits boxes and sticks first of all.
Works today.
Helper: the TV and a phone
A small app on the TV. It shows a QR code, you scan it with a phone, and the phone does the rest. No computer.
Out now: it installs on the TV through the Downloader app.
Bridge: a computer
A small program for your computer. It finds the TV on your network and talks to it.
The Mac version is ready now. Windows is coming soon. On Linux, Bridge still runs from the project source.
What we change
The default set (maximum level) for the Box S 3. Besides these apps, the wizard speeds up menu transitions and asks the TV to optimize apps; the basic level does the apps only. Nothing is deleted: an app we turned off can be turned back on. Only a cleared cache can’t be brought back; apps load it again by themselves. The “We keep” rows are examples.
18 apps are turned off, not deleted.
| App | What it is | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy launcher recommendationscom. | Old recommendations row on the home screen | We turn off |
| Mi Channelcom. | Promo channels on the home screen | We turn off |
| Xiaomi TV+ channelscom. | TV channels with promo content | We turn off |
| Mi TV pushcom. | Push messages and promos from the TV maker | We turn off |
| Mi system adscom. | System ad service | We turn off |
| Mi TV advertisingcom. | Ad service of the TV maker | We turn off |
| Network diagnosticscom. | Network diagnostics reports | We turn off |
| Feedbackcom. | Feedback reports | We turn off |
| Bug report sendercom. | Bug report sender | We turn off |
| Mi analyticscom. | Usage analytics of the TV maker | We turn off |
| Xiaomi statisticscom. | Usage statistics of the TV maker | We turn off |
| Mi OS statisticscom. | System usage statistics | We turn off |
| Basic screensavercom. | Basic colour screensaver | We turn off |
| Print spoolercom. | Print service; a TV box has no printer | We turn off |
| Play Musiccom. | Retired music app | We turn off |
| Calendar synccom. | Calendar sync | We turn off |
| Second-screen auth bridgecom. | Second-screen sign-in bridge | We turn off |
| Demo modecom. | Demo mode for shop displays | We turn off |
| Play Gamescom. | Games app | We keep |
| Google TV / Play Moviescom. | Movie store app | We keep |
| YouTube Musiccom. | Music app | We keep |
| Play Storecom. | Play Store: apps keep installing and updating | We keep |
| Google Play servicescom. | Play services: sign-in and apps depend on it | We keep |
| YouTubecom. | YouTube stays as it is | We keep |
| Google TV launchercom. | The stock home screen stays installed; ReTV Home opens next to it | We keep |
Other TVs get a similar list. Before the work, the connect screen shows the exact list for your TV.
How to undo
Open ReTV on the phone or computer you used.
- Open the restore page.
- Pick the “as it was” copy made before the work.
- Press “Restore”. The apps we turned off are turned on again.