How to hide or delete the "Shopping" tab on Android TV: a complete guide

The tab "Purchases"** on the main screen Android TV often annoys users: it takes up space, distracts with advertising and slows down navigation. This is especially true for owners of TVs Xiaomi Mi TV, Sony Bravia or Philips with firmware based on Android TV 9–12, where the tab appears after updates or installation of applications like Google Play Movies or Prime Video. Unfortunately, manufacturers rarely add the option to disable it in the standard settings, but there are workarounds.

In this article we will look at 5 working methods - from simple (hiding through launcher settings) to advanced (use ADB or third-party applications). All methods have been tested on current firmware versions and do not require root access. If you are tired of annoying ads or just want to organize your home screen, read on.

Why does the “Shopping” tab appear and can it be removed forever?

Tab "Purchases"** (sometimes called "Recommendations" or "For you") is the part Google Play Servicesintegrated into the shell Android TV. It analyzes your actions:

• 📺 Viewed movies/series in YouTube, Netflix or KinoPoisk;
• 🎮 Installed games from Google Play;
• 🛒 Content purchases via Google Play Movies or Prime Video.

TV manufacturers (for example, Xiaomi or TCL) often modify the standard launcher by adding advertising blocks. It is impossible to delete a tab permanently without root it is impossible - it will return after resetting the settings or updating the firmware. However, it can be hide, disable personalization or replaced with a launcher without excess water.

⚠️ Attention: On some models Sony Bravia 2023+ and Philips The One the "Purchases" tab is linked to the service Google TV. Hiding it may affect the operation of recommendations in other sections.

Method 1: Hiding through the launcher settings (without ADB)

The simplest method is to use the built-in launcher options. It works on most TVs with Android TV 9–12, including models Xiaomi Mi TV 4S/5, TCL and Hisense.

Instructions:

1. Hold the button Home on the remote control (usually with the house icon).
2. Go in the upper right corner of the screen and select Settings ⚙️ → Customize home screen.
3. Find the tab "Shopping"** (or "Recommendations") and click on it.
4. Select option Hide or Delete (on some TVs - drag the tab to the cart).

If there are no options, try: Hide no, try:

• 🔄 Reboot TV (sometimes the tab disappears after reboot);
• 📱 Update launcher via Google Play (search for query Android TV Launcher).

Make sure the TV is connected to the Internet|

Check the Android TV version in Settings → About TV|

Close all applications (double press Home)|

Take a photo of the current tab order in case of failure-->

Method 2: Disable personalization in Google Account

Tab "Purchases"** filled with data from your Google Account. If you disable personalization, it will become empty or disappear.

Steps:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and login → Google.
2. Select your account and go to Google account settings (a browser will open).
3. Go to section Data and personalization → Ad settings.
4. Disable the options:
   • 🔘 Personalized advertising;
   • 🔘 Activity-based recommendations.

The effect will appear in 1-2 hours. If the tab remains, but becomes empty, you can hide through the launcher settings (see Method 1).

⚠️ Attention: Disabling personalization will affect recommendations in YouTube, Google Play Movies and other Google services. You can restore the settings to the same account section.

Standard (from the manufacturer)|

ATV Launcher|

Sideload Launcher|

Hal Launcher|

Other-->

Method 3: Using ADB to delete a tab (advanced)

If the previous methods did not work, you can delete the tab via ADB (Android Debug Bridge). data-i="140">PC with Windows/macOS/Linux Windows/macOS/Linux PC.

What you will need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools;
• 🔌 Cable USB-Type C (or USB-MicroUSB for older models);
• 📱 Enabled mode USB debugging on TV.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Activate USB Debugging:

   Settings → About TV → Build Number (press 7 times)
   Settings → Developer Preferences → USB Debugging (ON)

2. Connect the TV to the PC with a cable and run in ADB:

   adb devices

   (the device should appear).

3. Delete the cache and launcher data:

   adb shell pm clear com.google.android.tvlauncher

4. Reboot the TV:

   adb reboot

After the reboot, the tab "Purchases"** will disappear. If it returns, repeat the command pm clear or use an alternative launcher (see Method 4).

adb connect [IP_of_TV]:5555

Method 4: Installing a third-party launcher (without unnecessary water)

If standard methods do not help, replace the launcher with an alternative Popular one. options:

How to install:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play on TV.
2. Open it and follow the setup instructions.
3. In Settings → Applications → Default Launcher select a new one launcher.

After replacing the launcher, all standard tabs (including “Purchases”) will disappear, but some manufacturer functions (for example, remote control Xiaomi or voice search Sony) may work differently.

Method 5: Reset settings to factory settings (as a last resort)

If no methods work, and the tab “Purchases”** is critically interfering, run reset settings. This will delete all data, including accounts and installed applications, but will return the TV to a “clean” state.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → Storage and reset → Reset data.
2. Select Erase everything (You may need to enter a PIN code).
3. After rebooting, set up the TV again, but do not connect your Google Account at the setup stage.

Without a linked account, the tab "Shopping"** will not appear. Later, you will be able to add an account, but recommendations will start showing again.

⚠️ Attention: On TVs Sony Bravia 2020–2023 a reset may block access to some functions (for example, Google Assistant) until re-authorization.

Common errors and how to avoid them

When trying to remove a tab "Shopping"** users encounter typical problems:

• 🔄 The tab returns after updating → Solution: disable automatic update of the launcher in Settings → Applications → Google TV Launcher → Auto-update.
• 🚫 There is no “Hide” option in the launcher settings → Solution: use ADB (Method 3) or a third-party launcher (Method 4).
• ⚠️ After resetting, the TV asks to update Software → Solution: skip the update or roll back the firmware (if available).

If you use Android TV Box (for example, Nvidia Shield or Xiaomi Mi Box), try rolling back to an older version of the firmware, where the “Purchases” tab did not yet exist. However, this is risky - some applications may stop working.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions