Claude TV

Claude TV combines a native Java launcher with Python ADB tools and editable, model-specific debloat lists. The launcher has no advertising feeds or Internet permission. Debloating disables selected packages rather than uninstalling them; it does not remove ads inside streaming apps.

Before · stock home	After · the retained launcher interface

Explore navigation, the screensaver and another comparison

App grid focus	Back to the dock

These are the original project's included screenshots, illustrating the interface preserved by Claude TV. They are not newly captured device tests. App availability and input labels vary by TV.

How it works · Devices · Requirements · Quick start · Installation · Debloat and restore · Customization · Architecture · Troubleshooting · FAQ · Contributing · Credits

1. Inspect and record. Connect through authenticated ADB over TCP; save package lists, firmware details, settings and the original HOME component.
2. Configure and build. Set dock preferences and the Live TV package in XML, then build the existing application.
3. Install and verify. Select Claude TV as HOME and confirm navigation and inputs before disabling the original launcher.
4. Debloat selectively. Review a device-specific list and disable unwanted packages with pm disable-user --user 0.
5. Restore when needed. Re-enable packages using that same list and select the original launcher again.

The scripts do not create backups automatically or decide whether a package is safe to disable. Restoration is not a full device snapshot rollback. Keep your baseline and the exact list you applied.

The launcher requires Android 8.0 / API 26 or newer. This project targets Android TV and Google TV devices that permit ADB access, sideloading and replacement of the HOME activity. Meeting the minimum SDK alone does not guarantee compatibility.

The included community examples record these devices; they are starting points, not certification of every model or firmware:

Not supported by this project: LG webOS, Samsung Tizen and Amazon Fire TV. Other Android TV models need their own package review and device testing. Firmware can restrict HOME replacement, input switching or debugging.

No root or Anthropic account is required. A coding assistant is optional. The Python tools do not require the stock adb executable. They read TV_HOST, with TV_PORT defaulting to 5555; they do not implement pairing-code Wireless debugging.

Start in the existing project root. No second checkout or new application is needed.

1. On the TV, enable developer options by selecting Build seven times, then enable USB debugging and Network/ADB debugging if offered. Menu names vary. Confirm your firmware exposes ADB over TCP.
2. Follow Installation to prepare Python, connect, save a baseline and build.
3. Configure your dock and Live TV package, install, and verify Home, apps, inputs and Settings.
4. Optionally apply a reviewed debloat list. Keep its restore command handy.

Prefer assistant-guided setup? Open this local folder in a coding assistant with shell access and use PROMPT.md. It directs the assistant to reuse this project, inspect your model, ask about preferences and record changes.

These commands are for a device installation you choose to perform. Replace 192.168.1.50 with your TV's address. Run project-relative commands from the repository root unless explicitly changing directory.

python -m venv tools/venv
./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe -m pip install -r tools/requirements.txt
$env:TV_HOST = '192.168.1.50'
./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe -I tools/tv.py --probe

python3 -m venv tools/venv
tools/venv/bin/python -m pip install -r tools/requirements.txt
export TV_HOST=192.168.1.50
tools/venv/bin/python -I tools/tv.py --probe

Accept the debugging authorization prompt on the TV. The client creates its private key pair in tools/adbkey/, which is ignored by Git. Keep it local.

Use a fresh backup directory for each installation. backup/ is ignored by Git. These dumps are reference records, not backups of app data.

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force backup | Out-Null
$py = './tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe'
& $py -I tools/tv.py 'pm list packages' > backup/packages.txt
& $py -I tools/tv.py 'pm list packages -d' > backup/disabled-before.txt
& $py -I tools/tv.py 'getprop' > backup/getprop.txt
& $py -I tools/tv.py 'settings list system' > backup/settings-system.txt
& $py -I tools/tv.py 'settings list secure' > backup/settings-secure.txt
& $py -I tools/tv.py 'settings list global' > backup/settings-global.txt
& $py -I tools/tv.py 'cmd package resolve-activity --brief -a android.intent.action.MAIN -c android.intent.category.HOME' > backup/home-before.txt

mkdir -p backup
tools/venv/bin/python -I tools/tv.py 'pm list packages' > backup/packages.txt
tools/venv/bin/python -I tools/tv.py 'pm list packages -d' > backup/disabled-before.txt
tools/venv/bin/python -I tools/tv.py 'getprop' > backup/getprop.txt
tools/venv/bin/python -I tools/tv.py 'settings list system' > backup/settings-system.txt
tools/venv/bin/python -I tools/tv.py 'settings list secure' > backup/settings-secure.txt
tools/venv/bin/python -I tools/tv.py 'settings list global' > backup/settings-global.txt
tools/venv/bin/python -I tools/tv.py 'cmd package resolve-activity --brief -a android.intent.action.MAIN -c android.intent.category.HOME' > backup/home-before.txt

Read home-before.txt and record the stock launcher package and full package/activity component. The scripts default to com.google.android.tvlauncher; the included TCL example instead uses com.google.android.apps.tv.launcherx.

Edit config.xml using Customization. Set JAVA_HOME to your JDK and ANDROID_HOME to your SDK. If needed, install components through your existing SDK manager:

sdkmanager "platforms;android-34" "build-tools;34.0.0"

These build-only commands do not contact a TV. Configure the SDK through ANDROID_HOME or Android Studio's local.properties first.

# Windows
Push-Location launcher
./gradlew.bat assembleDebug lint --console=plain
Pop-Location

# macOS / Linux
(cd launcher && ./gradlew assembleDebug lint --console=plain)

The APK is launcher/app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk. assembleRelease is also available, but release signing and minification are not configured.

For a first installation, use this explicit sequence to inspect each response. Keep TV_HOST set. First read the existing application ID from the build configuration in your current shell:

# PowerShell
$appId = ./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe -c "from pathlib import Path; print(Path('launcher/app/build.gradle').read_text().split('applicationId ')[1].split(chr(39))[1])"

# Bash
appId=$(tools/venv/bin/python -c "from pathlib import Path; print(Path('launcher/app/build.gradle').read_text().split('applicationId ')[1].split(chr(39))[1])")

For the following Python commands, in Bash substitute tools/venv/bin/python for ./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe; the remaining arguments are identical. Keep the double quotes shown so your shell expands $appId.

./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe -I tools/b64push.py launcher/app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk /data/local/tmp/tvhome.apk
./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe -I tools/tv.py 'pm install -r /data/local/tmp/tvhome.apk'

Continue only after upload reports MATCH and installation reports Success:

./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe -I tools/tv.py "pm grant $appId android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION"
./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe -I tools/tv.py "cmd package set-home-activity --user 0 $appId/.MainActivity"

Location permission supports Wi-Fi network-name display; firmware and location settings can still affect it. Press Home on the remote and verify the dock, grid, Settings, inputs and return-from-app focus. Only after the new HOME works, disable stock HOME using the package you recorded. This example uses the default stock package:

./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe -I tools/tv.py 'pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.tvlauncher'
./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe -I tools/tv.py 'rm -f /data/local/tmp/tvhome.apk'

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File launcher/build-and-install.ps1 -TvHost 192.168.1.50 -StockLauncher com.google.android.tvlauncher

TV_HOST=192.168.1.50 STOCK_LAUNCHER=com.google.android.tvlauncher bash launcher/build-and-install.sh

Copy the closest example to backup/debloat-reviewed.txt and edit that copy. Comment out packages you use, packages already disabled before your changes, and anything you have not identified. Some lists disable casting, voice, updates, accessibility services or streaming apps by personal choice.

Preserve TV/input services, remote and Bluetooth services, keyboard, Play Store and Play Services. Several lists include stock HOME: install and verify Claude TV first. Keep the exact reviewed list for restoration.

# Windows: apply
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File tools/disable.ps1 -TvHost 192.168.1.50 -List backup/debloat-reviewed.txt

# Restore: substitute your recorded stock package
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File tools/restore.ps1 -TvHost 192.168.1.50 -List backup/debloat-reviewed.txt -Stock com.google.android.tvlauncher

# macOS / Linux: TV_HOST must still be exported
bash tools/disable.sh backup/debloat-reviewed.txt

# Restore: substitute your recorded stock package
bash tools/restore.sh backup/debloat-reviewed.txt com.google.android.tvlauncher

Both restore scripts re-enable listed packages and stock HOME, attempt to select stock HOME, and set all three global animation scales to 1.0. They leave Claude TV installed. They do not restore previous settings, screensaver selection, permissions or disabled states. Inspect printed results: the batch client does not turn every Android command error into a failing exit code.

Bash restore resolves the full HOME component. PowerShell passes the package alone, which may fail on firmware requiring a full component, including some Android 9 devices. Use the exact component saved in backup/home-before.txt in that case:

# Replace the placeholder with the recorded package/activity component.
./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe -I tools/tv.py 'cmd package set-home-activity --user 0 STOCK_PACKAGE/STOCK_ACTIVITY'

# Re-enable a single app: replace PACKAGE_NAME with its actual identifier.
./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe -I tools/tv.py 'pm enable PACKAGE_NAME'

In Bash, substitute tools/venv/bin/python for the Windows Python path. Nothing is flashed or uninstalled, but disabling the wrong package can interrupt TV features. Keep your baseline available.

Edit launcher/app/src/main/res/values/config.xml, then rebuild and reinstall with the same signing key.

The grid discovers activities with CATEGORY_LEANBACK_LAUNCHER; phone-only apps may not appear. Find identifiers using tv.py 'pm list packages' and verify TV launch activities before adding them.

English/default and German strings live in values/strings.xml and values-de/strings.xml. There is no on-TV dock editor or wallpaper picker. Visual customization requires resource/code changes; the existing design uses black and generated ambient colour.

./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe -I tools/tv.py "settings put secure screensaver_components $appId/.ClockDream"
./tools/venv/Scripts/python.exe -I tools/tv.py 'settings put secure screensaver_enabled 1'

Claude-TV/
|-- README.md                  Project guide
|-- PROMPT.md                  Assistant-guided setup
|-- CONTRIBUTING.md            Contribution and validation guide
|-- LICENSE                    Original MIT notice and font attribution
|-- docs/                      Original screenshots and comparisons
|-- examples/                  Five model-specific package lists
|-- tools/
|   |-- tv.py                  ADB TCP shell, batch, push and pull
|   |-- b64push.py             Base64 upload with MD5 comparison
|   |-- disable.{sh,ps1}       Disable listed packages for user 0
|   |-- restore.{sh,ps1}       Re-enable packages and select stock HOME
|   `-- requirements.txt       Python dependencies
`-- launcher/
    |-- build-and-install.*    Device installers
    |-- gradlew / gradlew.bat  Gradle wrapper
    |-- FONT-LICENSE-OFL.txt    Outfit license
    `-- app/src/main/
        |-- AndroidManifest.xml
        |-- java/              Existing application package directory
        |   |-- MainActivity.java    Home, navigation, status and inputs
        |   |-- AppAdapter.java      Discovery, ordering and app tiles
        |   |-- GlassView.java       Focus highlight drawing
        |   |-- DockDecoration.java  Dock band and spacing
        |   `-- ClockDream.java      Optional screensaver
        `-- res/               Layouts, strings, config and artwork

The launcher uses Java 17, RecyclerView 1.3.2 and DynamicAnimation 1.0.0. SDK settings remain minSdk 26, compileSdk 34, targetSdk 29. The application ID and namespace in app/build.gradle are unchanged, and the internal Gradle name remains tvhome, preserving installation commands and component paths. The displayed application name is Claude TV.

Device notes, careful bug reports, localization and documentation improvements are welcome. Read CONTRIBUTING.md for scope, validation and the example format. Never publish debugging keys or unredacted backups.

Claude TV is an independent derivative of an open-source project. See upstream attribution and the original copyright notice. Credit for the original launcher, tools, workflow and included screenshots belongs to the upstream project and its contributors. Model-specific observations remain in examples/.

The project uses the MIT License, with the original copyright notice preserved in that file. The bundled Outfit font is credited to The Outfit Project Authors under the SIL Open Font License 1.1. Gradle wrapper scripts retain their Apache-2.0 notices. Original license files and notices are preserved.

Claude TV is not officially affiliated with Anthropic. Product names and app artwork in screenshots belong to their respective owners.