# TCL 65" QM8L Google TV (US) Cleaned up on 26 October 2026, on a real unit in one session. Board **G17** (MediaTek tcl9655), product `G17_4K_US`, Android 14, firmware `UTT2.250416.001 AU27`. The same board as the [65C8L](../tcl-65c8l-google-tv/) (firmware AU08, Australia); this list is that one without the three packages the US build does not have. Replace `` below with your TV's IP. What changed: - **24 apps disabled**, none uninstalled, listed with reasons in [debloat.txt](debloat.txt): TCL tracking (Samba TV ACR, BI analytics, logkit), TCL promos / FAST channels and the message hub, the retail and hotel demo, the e-manual and repair guide, the partner-app auto-installers, Google feedback, the soundbar updater, a preloaded "AstroTV" service, Google's promo screensaver (dreamx), the setup wizard (setupwraith) and the stock Google TV home (launcherx). - **Google TV home replaced** by the launcher from `launcher/`, with its clock screensaver in place of Google's. - **Remote buttons remapped**, since the stock home answered them. Kept: Assistant, Chromecast, AirPlay, Miracast and every installed streaming app. Checked afterwards: Live TV starts, the Input button's source panel opens, the four HDMI inputs work, YouTube streams with AdGuard Private DNS, the TV starts on Home at power-on, and the remapped buttons work on the real remote. All 24 packages stayed disabled after a reboot; nothing re-enabled. Take a full backup (package lists, settings, `getprop`) into the gitignored `backup/` folder before any change. ## Connecting to the TV This set offers only **Wireless debugging** (Settings > System > Developer options), and its connect port changes after each reboot. Pair with the on-screen code, connect, then run the tools through that connection (Windows, with Google's platform-tools; see [tools/native-adb.md](../../tools/native-adb.md)): ``` adb pair : adb connect : set TV_ADB_BINARY=adb (PowerShell: $env:TV_ADB_BINARY = 'adb') set TV_HOST=: ``` If the scripts report `device ':' not found`, run `adb connect :` once more: the device can be registered only under its `adb-...._adb-tls-connect._tcp` name. Each `tools/*.sh` script has a PowerShell twin that takes `-TvHost :`. ## Forget and re-join Wi-Fi first `dumpsys wifi` shows the saved network owned by setupwraith (`cname=...setupwraith`). Disabling setupwraith would delete it and drop Wi-Fi and ADB. On the TV, **forget the network and join it again** in Settings > Network & Internet; ownership moves to `com.android.tv.settings`. Wireless debugging goes off when Wi-Fi drops and comes back on a new port, so reconnect afterwards. ## Apply the list and install the launcher Apply in small batches, with a screenshot between them (`tools/tv.py --screenshot shots/01.png HOME`): 1. Disable everything above the "Launcher handover" block with `tools/disable.sh` (or `disable.ps1`). 2. Set the clock screensaver, then run the full list again so setupwraith and dreamx go: `tools/tv.py 'settings put secure screensaver_components com.gathin.tvhome/.ClockDream'`. 3. Build and install the launcher. It disables launcherx once it owns Home: `launcher/build-and-install.sh` (or `.ps1`). 4. Push this folder's [config.json](config.json): `tools/theme.sh examples/tcl-65qm8l-google-tv`. 5. For the remapped buttons and power-on Home, install with both helpers: `INPUT_KEY_SERVICE=1 HOME_KEY_SERVICE=1 RESTORE_KEY_SERVICES=1 launcher/build-and-install.sh` (`-InputKeyService -HomeKeyService -RestoreKeyServices` on Windows), then push the config again. ## Remote buttons On this remote the Settings, TV-guide and app-shortcut buttons send distinct keycodes, mapped in [config.json](config.json) `app_keys`: Settings 83, TV guide 4001 (Live TV), Netflix 4062, Prime Video 4099, YouTube 190. These worked on the real remote. **Trade-off:** the key helper stops hold-to-ramp volume (one step per press). It is all-or-nothing: leave the helper off to keep it, at the cost of the remapped buttons. ## HDMI input names Custom names such as "Cable" or "Blu-ray" are stored in one setting, as `,` pairs joined by `:`: ``` tools/tv.py 'settings get secure tv_input_custom_labels' ``` Edit the name of the pair whose id ends in the port's `HW` number (HDMI 1 is `HW15`, 2 `HW16`, 3 `HW17`, 4 `HW18`) and put the whole string back with `settings put secure tv_input_custom_labels ''`. Don't turn on the launcher's `inputs_connected_only` here: all four ports report as disconnected, so it hides every input. ## Re-enable one app On the TV: **Settings > Apps > See all apps > Show system apps**, pick the app, choose **Enable**. Or `tools/tv.py 'pm enable '`, then put a `#` in front of its line in `debloat.txt`. ## Undo everything ``` TV_HOST= tools/restore.sh examples/tcl-65qm8l-google-tv/debloat.txt com.google.android.apps.tv.launcherx TV_HOST= tools/tv.py 'settings delete secure screensaver_components' ``` Private DNS to an ad-blocking resolver works on this TV (it does not block YouTube ads); undo with `settings put global private_dns_mode opportunistic`. ## When you're done Turn off Wireless and USB debugging and **Revoke USB debugging authorisations** in Developer options, restart the TV, then check the port is closed ("Connection refused" means it worked): `tools/adb-closed.py `.