--- title: "I turned my smart TV into a dumb monitor, and every app got better overnight" url: https://daily.dev/posts/i-turned-my-smart-tv-into-a-dumb-monitor-and-every-app-got-better-overnight-wwlx66387 source_url: https://www.xda-developers.com/turned-smart-tv-dumb-monitor-app-got-better-overnight type: article source: "XDA Developers" published: 2026-06-20T18:32:07.079Z updated: 2026-06-20T19:00:29.674Z tags: ["privacy"] reading_time: 4 upvotes: 0 comments: 0 language: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # I turned my smart TV into a dumb monitor, and every app got better overnight **[XDA Developers](https://daily.dev/sources/xda-developers)** · 4 min read · 0 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary Google TV's slow launcher, ads, and tracking can be bypassed by enabling Basic TV Mode, which removes recommendation engines, Google Account integration, and local app execution, effectively turning a smart TV into a dumb display. Pairing this with HDMI-CEC lets an external streaming device control power and input seamlessly. Disabling Automated Content Recognition (ACR) tracking is also recommended. Alternatives like Nvidia Shield or Apple TV 4K are suggested for those who prefer a dedicated external streamer over dealing with smart TV software. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [I turned my smart TV into a dumb TV with this hidden feature, and I finally have control again](https://daily.dev/posts/i-turned-my-smart-tv-into-a-dumb-tv-with-this-hidden-feature-and-i-finally-have-control-again-1sdjgmmzi) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [Smart TV software ages terribly, so I built my setup around a streaming box instead](https://daily.dev/posts/smart-tv-software-ages-terribly-so-i-built-my-setup-around-a-streaming-box-instead-lt2sdpwhe) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [I turned off this hidden Roku TV setting and reclaimed my privacy](https://daily.dev/posts/i-turned-off-this-hidden-roku-tv-setting-and-reclaimed-my-privacy-d6mrhclk2) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [How to break free from smart TV ads and tracking](https://daily.dev/posts/how-to-break-free-from-smart-tv-ads-and-tracking-icx0wdnuz) · Hacker News · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [I turned my streaming stick into a dumb app launcher, and that's all it should be](https://daily.dev/posts/i-turned-my-streaming-stick-into-a-dumb-app-launcher-and-that-s-all-it-should-be-xxh1uue34) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#privacy](https://daily.dev/tags/privacy) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/i-turned-my-smart-tv-into-a-dumb-monitor-and-every-app-got-better-overnight-wwlx66387)