# Smart TV owners use AI to clean home screens

> AI tools help smart TV users remove ads and clutter.
- Title: Smart TV owners use AI to clean home screens · Mashable
- Summary: AI tools help smart TV users remove ads and clutter. Smart TV owners use AI coding assistants to simplify home screens by removing ads and bloatware.
- Keywords: smart tv, home screen, ads, bloatware, tv cleanup, cloude code, open source, tv-vibehack, technology, culture, Smart, owners
- Source: Mashable — https://mashable.com/tech/smart-tv-ads-claude-code-ai-cleanup
- Author: Olivia Tauber
- Published: 2026-10-19T18:53:36+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: smart tv, ai, home screen, ads, bloatware, tv cleanup, cloude code, open source, tv-vibehack, x, technology, culture
## Smart TV clutter problem
Smart TV owners face ads and bloatware that clutter home screens before reaching their preferred apps.
## AI coding assistants help
Users experiment with ai coding tools like Claude Code to disable unwanted software and build simpler home screens.
## X user fixes parents' tv
A developer used Claude Code to remove 25 software packages from a Xiaomi TV and build a home screen similar to an Apple TV.

> Looks like an apple tv now lol
## Another user removes ads
One user eliminated ads, bloatware, spyware, and laggy ui while adding a screensaver with calendar, weather, and stripe payments.

> I also got a beautiful screensaver with my revenue calendar weather and notifications for new stripe payments it was super easy
## CleanYourTV project
CleanYourTV, an open-source project originally called tv-vibehack, aims to replace promotional clutter with user-focused interfaces.
## User benefits from cleanup
Users report smoother tv performance, custom wallpapers, and language switches for parents after simplifying their home screens.

> Now my tv is running super smooth same as a new one
## TiVo survey shows frustration
TiVo's Q4 2025 report found over one-third of tv owners report excessive advertising on their home screens.
## Roku's growth strategy
Roku names making more money from home screens a key growth initiative in its 2025 annual report.
## How to use Claude Code
Users connect their computer and tv to the same wi-fi, enable developer options, and paste a project prompt into Claude Code.
## 25-minute cleanup
One user completed a tv cleanup on a Sansui Google TV in 25 minutes using a coding assistant.

> Damn that was smooth
## Potential issues
Some tv models restrict software changes, and coding assistants may make mistakes that require undoing.
## Unusual additions
Users add unexpected features like live game odds charts from Polymarket to their cleaned tv interfaces.

> Gave my tv live @polymarket game odds charts
## Key takeaway

Smart TV owners use AI coding assistants to simplify home screens by removing ads and bloatware.