Lightweight Windows application to debloat TCL/Google Android TV devices, install APKs, and customize the TV experience.
Built using Python and PySimpleGUI.
Maintenance status: This project is not actively maintained. It works as described and issues are read, but updates and responses may be slow. Pull requests are welcome — see the source code, it's short and straightforward.
- Connect to Android TV over Wi-Fi (ADB Wireless)
- Pair & Connect for Android 11+ / Chromecast with Google TV (Wireless Debugging)
- Debloat TCL and Google bloatware
- Remove Google TV Recommendations
- Install APKs remotely (FLauncher included)
- Disable Google Launcher safely (after installing a custom launcher)
- Reboot TV remotely
Short answer: it was a false positive. There is no trojan, spyware, or malicious code in this project.
Previous versions included a pre-built run_toolkit.exe file. This triggered antivirus warnings for three reasons — none of which involve actual malware:
- PyInstaller packaging — The exe was built with PyInstaller, which bundles a Python runtime and unpacks itself into a temporary folder at launch. This self-extracting behaviour is identical to how some malware operates, so antivirus tools flag it heuristically even when the code inside is completely clean.
- Shell command execution — The old code used
os.popen()to run ADB commands, which passes commands through the Windows shell. Antivirus tools see a GUI program silently spawning shell processes and treat it as suspicious. - Bundled ADB binaries — Shipping
adb.exeinside a zip alongside an unsigned executable is another common malware pattern that triggers heuristic detection.
What changed in v1.2:
- The pre-built
run_toolkit.exehas been removed from the repo entirely. You run the toolkit directly from the Python source — no packaging, nothing to flag. - All shell commands have been rewritten to use Python's
subprocessmodule with explicit argument lists (no shell involvement), which is both safer and less suspicious to antivirus tools. - Input validation was added so no user-supplied data is ever passed unsanitised to a system command.
You are encouraged to read the source code (run_toolkit.py) yourself — it is short, straightforward, and does exactly what it says.
- Windows 10 or 11
- Python 3.8 or later — Download from python.org
- TV must have Developer Options enabled
- ADB Debugging turned ON
- TV and PC must be on the same Wi-Fi network
Download and install Python 3.8+ from python.org.
During installation, check "Add Python to PATH".
Open a Command Prompt and run:
pip install PySimpleGUI
PySimpleGUI licence note: PySimpleGUI v5+ requires a free account at PySimpleGUI.com to suppress the licence prompt. No payment is needed for personal use — just sign up and the prompt goes away.
Click the green Code button on this page → Download ZIP, then unzip it anywhere.
- Go to Settings → Device Preferences → About → Build Number and click it 7 times to unlock Developer Options.
- Go to Settings → Device Preferences → Developer Options and turn on ADB Debugging.
Open a Command Prompt in the project folder and run:
python run_toolkit.py
Or double-click run_toolkit.py if Python is associated with .py files on your system.
Standard Android TV (TCL, Onn, Nvidia Shield):
- Click Connect to TV and enter your TV's IP address (find it under Settings → Network → About).
Android 11+ / Chromecast with Google TV:
- Enable Wireless Debugging in Developer Options (separate from ADB Debugging).
- Click Pair & Connect (Android 11+ / Chromecast) and fill in the IP, Pairing Port, Pairing Code, and Debug Port shown on your TV's Wireless Debugging screen.
Then choose a function:
- Safe Debloat — recommended first run; removes common bloatware safely
- Advanced Debloat — more options with risk ratings (✅ Safe /
⚠️ Caution / 🚫 Critical) - Install APK — install apps directly to your TV
- Disable Google TV Launcher — only do this after installing a backup launcher like FLauncher
If you plan to disable the Google TV Launcher, install a backup launcher first so you don't get locked out.
- Download the FLauncher APK from APKPure.
- Use the Install APK button in the Toolkit to push it to your TV.
- Open FLauncher from your TV's Apps list to confirm it works.
- Then use Disable Google TV Launcher in the Toolkit.
✅ FLauncher is open-source, ad-free, and maintained by the community.
"adb not found" error:
The toolkit looks for ADB in the adb/ folder next to the script. Make sure you unzipped the full project (not just the .py file).
32-bit ADB / incompatible with 64-bit Windows:
The bundled adb.exe may be 32-bit. Replace the files in the adb/ folder with the latest 64-bit version:
- Download from Google's official platform-tools
- Copy
adb.exe,AdbWinApi.dll, andAdbWinUsbApi.dllinto theadb/folder, replacing the existing files
"Failed to connect" / "connection refused":
- Make sure ADB Debugging is enabled on the TV
- Make sure the TV and PC are on the same Wi-Fi network
- If using a Chromecast or Android 11+ device, use the Pair & Connect button instead of Connect to TV
Q: Do I need to install anything to run the Toolkit?
A: Yes — Python 3.8+ and the PySimpleGUI library (pip install PySimpleGUI). This replaced the old .exe approach to eliminate antivirus false positives.
Q: Will this work on all Android TV devices?
A: The Toolkit is designed for devices that support ADB Debugging — TCL TVs, Onn 4K boxes, and Nvidia Shield TV. Chromecast with Google TV is supported via the Pair & Connect option. Start with Safe Debloat mode if you are unsure.
Q: Is there a risk of disabling important apps?
A: Always start with Safe Debloat, which only removes known bloatware. The Advanced mode shows risk ratings for each app (✅ /
Q: Is the Toolkit free to use?
A: Yes — fully open-source under the MIT License.
Q: The old .exe got flagged by my antivirus. Is this version safe?
A: Yes. See the Why Did Antivirus Flag This? section above. Running from Python source removes every trigger that caused those false positives.
Q: Is this project actively maintained?
A: Not actively. The toolkit works as described and issues are read, but updates may be infrequent. The source code is short and well-structured — contributions via pull request are welcome.
| Area | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Distribution | Pre-built run_toolkit.exe (PyInstaller) |
Run from Python source directly |
| Shell commands | os.popen() — passes through Windows shell |
subprocess.run() with argument lists — no shell |
| Input validation | None — raw user input passed to commands | IP address validated before any ADB call |
| Error reporting | Fragile string matching on command output | Return codes checked; errors shown clearly |
| ADB target | Port hardcoded to 5555 in some places | Consistent ip:port target throughout |
| State management | Global variables | TVConnection class |
| Android 11+ / Chromecast | Not supported | New Pair & Connect flow |
Some people prefer to use a .exe file rather than running a Python script — it feels more like a normal Windows app. You can build one yourself from the source code. Because you built it on your machine, Windows will trust it.
Why not just download a pre-built exe? A pre-built exe created by someone else will often trigger antivirus warnings — not because it contains malware, but because Windows is suspicious of executables from the internet that it hasn't seen before. Building it yourself avoids this entirely.
Make sure you have already completed Steps 1 and 2 from the Setup section above (Python installed and PySimpleGUI installed).
Step 1 — Install PyInstaller
PyInstaller is a free tool that packages a Python script into a standalone .exe. Open a Command Prompt and run:
pip install pyinstaller
This downloads and installs PyInstaller automatically. You only need to do this once.
Step 2 — Open a Command Prompt in the project folder
Navigate to the folder where you unzipped this project. Click the address bar at the top of File Explorer, type cmd, and press Enter. This opens a Command Prompt already pointing at the right folder.
Step 3 — Run the build command
Type the following and press Enter:
pyinstaller --onefile --windowed run_toolkit.py
What this does:
--onefilepackages everything into a single.exefile (easier to use)--windowedprevents a black console window from appearing when you run the app
This will take 30–60 seconds. You will see a lot of text scroll by — that is normal.
Step 4 — Find your exe
When it finishes, open the dist folder inside the project folder. Your run_toolkit.exe is in there. You can move it anywhere you like — your Desktop, for example.
Note: This exe will work on your machine but may still trigger antivirus warnings if you send it to someone else. That is expected behaviour — see the Why Did Antivirus Flag This? section. If you want to share the toolkit with someone, send them the Python source and point them to the Setup instructions instead.
Inspired by the Reddit Android TV community.
Built for the community to simplify TV customization.
This project is licensed under the MIT License.