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I ran into this last week on my nvidia shield. Here's a summary of the workaround I found (apologies for not having the specific package names offhand): 1. Ins

I ran into this last week on my nvidia shield. Here's a summary of the workaround I found (apologies for not having the specific package names offhand): 1. Install a new launcher from play store (I found one called "Basic Launcher" that matches the aesthetics of the default one). This doesn't solve the problem though, because Google disabled changing the default launcher for some user hostile reason, until you delete the existing launcher. 2. Enable development mode by tapping on the build number in settings 3. Connect an adb shell to your device 4. Remove the built in launcher 5. Reboot, select basic launcher when prompted I own a few android TV devices, have recommended them to people in the past, and won't be purchasing another. I think what happened here should be illegal and shame on whoever worked on this.

wccrawford 5y ago
At first, I thought nVidia had done this, and I was cursing their name. After some searching, I discovered this is actually the stock launcher from Google instead. nVidia should absolutely get ahead of this to preserve their own reputation.
- vbezhenar 5y ago
  That's Nvidia's choice to use default launcher. It's not like Google does not allow their partners to adapt OS. I agree about blaming Google first, but it's device from Nvidia, customer will not research where each particular application or part came from. If battery will blow up, nobody will blame some nameless chinese factory.
  - brewdad 5y ago
    I absolutely blame Nvidia for this. I fully expect ads on my $25 Fire Stick. It's part of the bargain with Amazon. There is no way there should be ads on a $150-200 device, especially when they have been added in well after purchase. Regardless of where they choose to lay blame, if Nvidia doesn't fix this I am done with their devices when it's time to replace them.
    - adrr 5y ago
      My $2000 top of the line Samsung tv is filled with ads. I assume LGs running android tv also got hit. Those TVs go up $3700 for their largest consumer OlED panel.
      - foepys 5y ago
        There have been complaints about these Google Launcher ads with Sony TVs for months. It's the reason why I didn't update to Android 9 and disabled all automatic updates. Sony's "smart" TVs all come with Android TV (now called Google TV). Their top of the line OLED TV Sony Z9J starts at $8,000 in 75" and costs $10,000 in 85".
      - sdefresne 5y ago
        LG TV don't run Android TV. They run WebOS. So they probably have not been getting those ads.
- m4rtink 5y ago
  You mean, they should put in their own adds as well ? ;-) (I mean, their reputation in some circless is AFAIK quite bad - 500+ MB drivers requiring registration on windows, lack of cooperation on Linux drivers, nerfing of some of their GPUs for shady reasons, attempts to buy ARM, etc.)
mctt 5y ago
>I manged to remove them...you go to All apps..scroll down to "Show system apps"...Android TV Home...Force stop... Uninstall updates => You will have old Home Screen https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/457996/new-ad-bar-please-remove/3098866/ https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/4579...
- matthewrobertso 5y ago
  I looked through this thread when searching for a workaround but this method didn't work for me (2019 Shield TV Pro), I had to swap the launcher.
  - tinybear1 5y ago
    Uninstalling the update also didn't work for me using my 2015 Shield.
  - SixDouble5321 5y ago
    This worked for me at first now I have the new UI no matter what state the actual app is in
- bencollier49 5y ago
  Wouldn't that mean you had an insecure device?
  - Decker87 5y ago
    Everything's a tradeoff.
  - worble 5y ago
    I'm really tired of companies hiding behind "security" when it comes to ruining my experience every time I get an update. If they want me to be secure, package essential security updates into seperate downloads.
    - gary_0 5y ago
dehrmann 5y ago
Anyone try LineageOS on a Shield? I'm guessing everything is missing. I'm not sure if that's bad, but I'd missing being able to Chromecast to it.
headmelted 5y ago
I was really disappointed to find the same problems with tvOS having moved from a pair of Shields. The ads hadn’t rolled out yet on Shield when I moved over but for some reason I just assumed Apple wouldn’t be shilling ads at me constantly for services I don’t have, or trying to sell me content I already have access to. More fool me. Fire TV is worse, but I’ve heard Roku is much the same. The Smart TV ecosystem is rot all over.
- SixDouble5321 5y ago
  On Roku, not sure of the others, standard router-level adblock worked.
- xibo9 5y ago
  Can you be more specific? I have multiple Apple TV STBs and don't see what you're describing.
  - easton 5y ago
    They’re probably talking about the Apple TV App on tvOS, which searches services you don’t necessarily have. You can get rid of it though, so I don’t know what the big deal is.
    - foepys 5y ago
      You can get rid of it - for now. That's what the whole thread is about: there weren't ads until there were. Years ago, the App Store also used to not show ads.
    - headmelted 5y ago
      Exactly - it’s identical to the problem in this thread. Google TV launcher == Apple TV app on tvOS You can remove the Google TV launcher but with it huge amounts of device functionality (including search). Same as for the TV app. Literally zero difference other than the customary Apple free pass they always get.
sureglymop 5y ago
Do you know of any Android TV / smart tv box which has a USB port? I am currently building a magic mirror like smart map. Basically, the goal is to have a big touchscreen with Google maps or Google earth running. For touch screen support I bought a cheap USB infrared frame. I have tested it with the USB C port of my Android phone and it works well, but I have sadly not found any Android TV box which has an USB port.
- TingPing 5y ago
  I believe many that use usb for power, like Google's, are real ports that can be split with a hub.
  - joombaga 5y ago
    That's correct. The Chromecast w/ Google TV works with the same USB-C hub I use with my MacBook Pro and Nintendo Switch.
  - sureglymop 5y ago
    Oh wow, that is news to me. That would be what I'm looking for! Thanks
- grishka 5y ago
  The very first one, ADT-1, does have a USB port. I have one, but it's a prototype kind of thing and Google never really sold these to the general public. I got mine at Google I/O. That said, you could probably find them on ebay.
- Jackdanie1s 5y ago
  Check out the formuler boxes, the gtv is android certified
- lostlogin 5y ago
  I used to put Xibo on crappy boxes like this one here for work. They never had the same internals, even if I used the same supplier. They usually thought they were a phone when you dug into their software. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/electronics-photography/media-streaming/smart-tv-boxes/listing/3151891440 https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/electronics-photogra...
2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago
This has been infuriating. It's even more pushy now that I do not log into a Google Account on the Nvidia Shield because it requires giving Nvidia full account access. I have a Google notification that I cannot dismiss and 3 buttons on my App menu that all take me to the Play Store that I cannot remove. I'm livid. This should be illegal and I'm frankly worried about Google's future if this is the kind of shit that they need to pull to continue to profit. Some of the brightest sw eng's around yet they do this shit rather than innovate. Lazy
somethingwitty1 5y ago
Uninstalling didn't seem to work for me after reboot. If that doesn't work for you, try disabling it: 1. Install your new launcher through play store. (I used the Basic Launcher as well). 2. Settings -> Device Preferences -> About. Scroll to "Build" and click on it until it pops up that you are a developer (it will give you a countdown) 3. Settings -> Device Preferences -> Developer options (this was just unlocked in step 2) -> Network debugging (this will let you use adb) 4. Install adb (platform tools) on your computer. 5. adb connect <ip address of your shield> 6. adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.tvlauncher 7. adb shell reboot Should find yourself in the launcher you installed Note, I also stopped the google launcher (cleared data/reset defaults)/tested the new launcher in the middle. So if these steps don't seem to work, before doing step 5 try doing those and then retry.
- PostThisTooFast 5y ago
  "Scroll to "Build" and click on it until it pops up that you are a developer" More bullshit. Google is king of shitty UI.
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago
  You're a lifesaver. Wasn't able to get the 3rd party launcher going by default. Thanks!

wccrawford 5y ago

At first, I thought nVidia had done this, and I was cursing their name. After some searching, I discovered this is actually the stock launcher from Google instead. nVidia should absolutely get ahead of this to preserve their own reputation.

vbezhenar 5y ago
That's Nvidia's choice to use default launcher. It's not like Google does not allow their partners to adapt OS. I agree about blaming Google first, but it's device from Nvidia, customer will not research where each particular application or part came from. If battery will blow up, nobody will blame some nameless chinese factory.
- brewdad 5y ago
  I absolutely blame Nvidia for this. I fully expect ads on my $25 Fire Stick. It's part of the bargain with Amazon. There is no way there should be ads on a $150-200 device, especially when they have been added in well after purchase. Regardless of where they choose to lay blame, if Nvidia doesn't fix this I am done with their devices when it's time to replace them.
  - adrr 5y ago
    My $2000 top of the line Samsung tv is filled with ads. I assume LGs running android tv also got hit. Those TVs go up $3700 for their largest consumer OlED panel.
    - foepys 5y ago
      There have been complaints about these Google Launcher ads with Sony TVs for months. It's the reason why I didn't update to Android 9 and disabled all automatic updates. Sony's "smart" TVs all come with Android TV (now called Google TV). Their top of the line OLED TV Sony Z9J starts at $8,000 in 75" and costs $10,000 in 85".
    - sdefresne 5y ago
      LG TV don't run Android TV. They run WebOS. So they probably have not been getting those ads.
m4rtink 5y ago
You mean, they should put in their own adds as well ? ;-) (I mean, their reputation in some circless is AFAIK quite bad - 500+ MB drivers requiring registration on windows, lack of cooperation on Linux drivers, nerfing of some of their GPUs for shady reasons, attempts to buy ARM, etc.)

mctt 5y ago

>I manged to remove them...you go to All apps..scroll down to "Show system apps"...Android TV Home...Force stop... Uninstall updates => You will have old Home Screen https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/457996/new-ad-bar-please-remove/3098866/ https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/4579...

matthewrobertso 5y ago
I looked through this thread when searching for a workaround but this method didn't work for me (2019 Shield TV Pro), I had to swap the launcher.
- tinybear1 5y ago
  Uninstalling the update also didn't work for me using my 2015 Shield.
- SixDouble5321 5y ago
  This worked for me at first now I have the new UI no matter what state the actual app is in
bencollier49 5y ago
Wouldn't that mean you had an insecure device?
- Decker87 5y ago
  Everything's a tradeoff.
- worble 5y ago
  I'm really tired of companies hiding behind "security" when it comes to ruining my experience every time I get an update. If they want me to be secure, package essential security updates into seperate downloads.
  - gary_0 5y ago

dehrmann 5y ago

Anyone try LineageOS on a Shield? I'm guessing everything is missing. I'm not sure if that's bad, but I'd missing being able to Chromecast to it.

headmelted 5y ago

I was really disappointed to find the same problems with tvOS having moved from a pair of Shields. The ads hadn’t rolled out yet on Shield when I moved over but for some reason I just assumed Apple wouldn’t be shilling ads at me constantly for services I don’t have, or trying to sell me content I already have access to. More fool me. Fire TV is worse, but I’ve heard Roku is much the same. The Smart TV ecosystem is rot all over.

SixDouble5321 5y ago
On Roku, not sure of the others, standard router-level adblock worked.
xibo9 5y ago
Can you be more specific? I have multiple Apple TV STBs and don't see what you're describing.
- easton 5y ago
  They’re probably talking about the Apple TV App on tvOS, which searches services you don’t necessarily have. You can get rid of it though, so I don’t know what the big deal is.
  - foepys 5y ago
    You can get rid of it - for now. That's what the whole thread is about: there weren't ads until there were. Years ago, the App Store also used to not show ads.
  - headmelted 5y ago
    Exactly - it’s identical to the problem in this thread. Google TV launcher == Apple TV app on tvOS You can remove the Google TV launcher but with it huge amounts of device functionality (including search). Same as for the TV app. Literally zero difference other than the customary Apple free pass they always get.

sureglymop 5y ago

Do you know of any Android TV / smart tv box which has a USB port? I am currently building a magic mirror like smart map. Basically, the goal is to have a big touchscreen with Google maps or Google earth running. For touch screen support I bought a cheap USB infrared frame. I have tested it with the USB C port of my Android phone and it works well, but I have sadly not found any Android TV box which has an USB port.

TingPing 5y ago
I believe many that use usb for power, like Google's, are real ports that can be split with a hub.
- joombaga 5y ago
  That's correct. The Chromecast w/ Google TV works with the same USB-C hub I use with my MacBook Pro and Nintendo Switch.
- sureglymop 5y ago
  Oh wow, that is news to me. That would be what I'm looking for! Thanks
grishka 5y ago
The very first one, ADT-1, does have a USB port. I have one, but it's a prototype kind of thing and Google never really sold these to the general public. I got mine at Google I/O. That said, you could probably find them on ebay.
Jackdanie1s 5y ago
Check out the formuler boxes, the gtv is android certified
lostlogin 5y ago
I used to put Xibo on crappy boxes like this one here for work. They never had the same internals, even if I used the same supplier. They usually thought they were a phone when you dug into their software. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/electronics-photography/media-streaming/smart-tv-boxes/listing/3151891440 https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/electronics-photogra...

2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago

This has been infuriating. It's even more pushy now that I do not log into a Google Account on the Nvidia Shield because it requires giving Nvidia full account access. I have a Google notification that I cannot dismiss and 3 buttons on my App menu that all take me to the Play Store that I cannot remove. I'm livid. This should be illegal and I'm frankly worried about Google's future if this is the kind of shit that they need to pull to continue to profit. Some of the brightest sw eng's around yet they do this shit rather than innovate. Lazy

somethingwitty1 5y ago

Uninstalling didn't seem to work for me after reboot. If that doesn't work for you, try disabling it: 1. Install your new launcher through play store. (I used the Basic Launcher as well). 2. Settings -> Device Preferences -> About. Scroll to "Build" and click on it until it pops up that you are a developer (it will give you a countdown) 3. Settings -> Device Preferences -> Developer options (this was just unlocked in step 2) -> Network debugging (this will let you use adb) 4. Install adb (platform tools) on your computer. 5. adb connect <ip address of your shield> 6. adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.tvlauncher 7. adb shell reboot Should find yourself in the launcher you installed Note, I also stopped the google launcher (cleared data/reset defaults)/tested the new launcher in the middle. So if these steps don't seem to work, before doing step 5 try doing those and then retry.

PostThisTooFast 5y ago
"Scroll to "Build" and click on it until it pops up that you are a developer" More bullshit. Google is king of shitty UI.
2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago
You're a lifesaver. Wasn't able to get the 3rd party launcher going by default. Thanks!