Remove Ads From Android TV's Home Screen While You Still Can

The latest Android TV Home update adds a new “Cinematic Highlights” section to the Android TV home screen. This new tab—which is now one of the first you’ll see in the interface—auto-plays ads for new shows and movies. If that annoys you, you still have an opportunity to fix this (for now).

To be fair, the advertisements aren’t too invasive, but I sympathize with those who don’t want them. It clutters the menu with extra stuff many people probably won’t use. Besides, is it really a “suggestion” if you’re just showing everyone the same ads disguised as a trailer?

While the Cinematic Highlights tab will one day be permanent, it’s only optional for now. Users can remove the ads by uninstalling the latest Android TV Home app update or by preventing it from being downloaded in the first place.

Uninstall the latest Android TV Home update

You can uninstall the new Android TV Home app update if you recently installed it. Make sure you uninstall it soon; otherwise, the option to rollback to a version without the home screen ads will no longer be available.

1. On your Android TV device, go to Settings.

2. Select Apps, then See All Apps, and Show system apps.

3. Find and select “Android TV Home” in the app list.

4. Select “Uninstall Updates” in the app’s options to remove the latest update and roll back to the previous app version.

5. Let the process run.

With the Cinematic Highlights category removed from the Android TV home screen, you now need to disable Android TV’s auto-updates so your device won’t accidentally re-install it.

Prevent automatic app updates

You need to perform this step whether you’ve installed the update or not. Otherwise, Android TV will automatically update your apps and re-install the home screen ads.

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android TV device.

2. Go to “Settings” from the side menu.

3. Select “Auto-update apps.”

4. Turn off auto-updates. Note that you will need to manually install app updates through Google Play while this option is disabled.

With the possibility of unwanted automatic app updates removed, you should now be safe from the home screen ads, at least for now. Google will likely force the Cinematic Highlights on everyone by making it a part of mandatory future updates, after which reverting to older Android TV Home app versions will no longer be possible. But, hey, this gives us a little more time to enjoy a less-cluttered Android TV home screen.

[9to5Google]