Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsYou can remove some smart TV apps, hide others from the home screen, and reduce certain recommendations or ads—but no single setting removes every app and banner on every TV. First identify your TV platform and software version, then choose the control that matches what you want to change: an installed app, a shortcut, recommendations, or a specific ad.
What do you want to remove?
“Remove an app” can mean uninstalling it or merely hiding its icon. Banner controls are different again: a TV may let you reduce personalized recommendations or hide one ad without removing all sponsored content. Advertising-ID settings affect personalization signals, not necessarily the ads shown.
| Goal | Control to look for | What it does not guarantee |
|---|---|---|
| Uninstall an app | App details or an app-list delete control | That every preinstalled app can be removed |
| Clear a home-screen shortcut | Home-screen or app-list editing | That the app itself is uninstalled |
| Reduce recommendations | Apps-only mode or personalized-content settings, if available | That sponsored content and teasers disappear |
| Hide a particular banner | An ad-specific menu, where supported | That other ads will not appear |
| Reduce ad personalization | Advertising or privacy settings | An ad-free interface |
Google TV: hide recommendations or uninstall an app
Turn on Apps only mode
On supported devices, go to All settings → Accounts & Profiles → your profile → Apps only mode. It hides personalized recommendations and focuses the home screen on installed apps. Sponsored content and movie or show teasers can still appear. Search, Google Assistant, likes and dislikes, and watchlist controls are among the features unavailable in this mode. Availability can vary by device and region. See Google’s Google TV guide.
Uninstall an app
Open the Apps tab, find the app under Your apps, open its details, and select Uninstall. If the option is absent, that app or device may not support removal through this route.
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Go to Settings → Privacy → Ads to reset or delete the advertising ID. Resetting replaces the identifier; deleting it leaves no new identifier assigned. Neither option stops apps from showing ads, which may use other information shared with them. Treat these as personalization controls, not banner-removal switches. Google’s ad settings guide explains the options.
Android TV: edit rows and previews
Android TV may let you add, remove, or reorder home-screen channel rows, turn off audio and video previews, and sign out of Discover to stop personalized recommendations. Look under Settings → Device preferences → Home screen. The available controls differ between TVs, so a missing option may reflect the model rather than a mistake. Google’s home-screen guide describes these settings.
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Roku: remove a channel or hide one banner
Remove an app
Use Roku’s home screen or mobile app to remove a channel, following its app-removal instructions. If Remove app is missing, an active subscription or current billing cycle may be involved. Cancel auto-renewal where appropriate, then try removal again.
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Hide a selected ad
For certain right-side home-screen ads, select the ad, press the Star button, and choose Hide this ad. Roku says another ad replaces the one you hide, and the preference applies only to that device. Its ad-preference controls cover non-video banner ads in menus and screensavers; they do not turn off all Roku ads. See Roku’s ad-preferences guide.
Samsung TV: remove an icon without uninstalling the app
Samsung’s cited instructions use Home screen → Now Playing → List Edit. Select the app and press Down to remove it from the Home screen. This removes the shortcut, not the app: it remains installed and can be added back. These instructions are from Samsung India, and labels may differ by model or market. Check Samsung’s app instructions against your TV.
#1 Best Overall
- 720p resolution - View your favorite movies, shows and games in high definition.
- Alexa voice control - The Alexa Voice Remote lets you easily control your entertainment, search across apps, switch inputs, and more using just your voice. Press and hold the voice button and ask Alexa to easily find, launch, and control content, and even switch to cable.
- Access thousands of shows with Fire TV - Watch over 1.5 million streaming movies and TV episodes with access to thousands of channels, apps and Alexa skills, including Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, Apple TV+, Disney+, ESPN+, Sling TV, Paramount+, and other services right from this TV.*
- DTS Virtual-X Sound - An immersive sound format creates a three-dimensional sound experience with your TV’s speakers.
- Supports HDMI ARC - Sends audio directly from the HDMI jack to a compatible soundbar or AV receiver, removing the need for an extra cable.
LG webOS: delete an app or check Home Mode
Delete an app
For the cited webOS 22 instructions, open Home → Edit App List, select the app, then use the delete control. LG’s steps are version-specific; confirm your TV model or webOS version before relying on that route. See LG’s app guide.
Check promotional messages and home-menu ad settings
LG says Store Mode can cause promotional messages or images and recommends switching to Home Mode. Its support page also points to General → System → Additional Settings → Home Settings for home-menu advertising settings. The route varies across webOS generations, so menu names on your TV may differ. See LG’s advertising-message guidance.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 4k Ultra HD (2160p resolution): Enjoy breathtaking HDR10 4K movies and TV shows at 4 times the resolution of Full HD, and upscale your current content to Ultra HD-level picture quality.
- High Dynamic Range: Provides a wide range of color details and sharper contrast, from the brightest whites to the deepest blacks.
- All-in-one: Get right to your good stuff. With Fire TV, you can enjoy a world of entertainment from apps like Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max. Plus, stream for free with Fire TV Channels, Pluto TV, Tubi, and more. Access over 1.8 million movies and TV episodes. Subscriptions may be required. Feature and content availability may vary.
- Smart Home: Your smart home hub. Pair Fire TV with compatible smart home devices to see live camera feeds, use AirPlay, control your lighting and thermostat, and more.
- Free Content: Stream for free. Access over 1 million free movies and TV episodes from popular ad-supported streaming apps like Fire TV Channels, Tubi, and Pluto TV. Subscriptions may be required. Feature and content availability may vary.
Rank #4
- Bright, clear picture: Bring entertainment to life on our 24" flat screen TV with bright 720p HD—perfect for bedrooms, kitchens, and beyond. Roku Smart Picture cleans up incoming TV signals, optimizes them, and chooses the right picture mode.
- Seamless streaming: With fast Wi-Fi and apps that launch in a snap, Roku Select Series TVs get you to your entertainment quickly. You get excellent picture quality, clear sound, automatic updates, and more. It’s simple to use. Hard to outgrow.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
- A world of free entertainment: Enjoy a huge selection of free live TV, news, sports, movies, shows, and much more—all just a click away.
- More streaming, less searching: With personalized picks right on your Home Screen, quick access to the sports and entertainment you watch most, and fast and easy search in one place—the days of endless scrolling are over.
Rank #3
- 1080p resolution - View your favorite movies, shows and games in full high definition.
- Alexa voice control - The Alexa Voice Remote lets you easily control your entertainment, search across apps, switch inputs, and more using just your voice. Press and hold the voice button and ask Alexa to easily find, launch, and control content, and even switch to cable.
- Access thousands of shows with Fire TV - Watch over 1.5 million streaming movies and TV episodes with access to thousands of channels, apps and Alexa skills, including Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, Apple TV+, Disney+, ESPN+, Sling TV, Paramount+, and other services right from this TV.*
- DTS Virtual-X Sound - An immersive sound format creates a three-dimensional sound experience with your TV’s speakers.
- Supports HDMI ARC - Sends audio directly from the HDMI jack to a compatible soundbar or AV receiver, removing the need for an extra cable.
Rank #2
- Bright, clear picture: Bring entertainment to life on our 40" flat screen TV with bright 1080p Full HD—perfect for bedrooms, kitchens, and beyond. Roku Smart Picture cleans up incoming TV signals, optimizes them, and chooses the right picture mode.
- Seamless streaming: With fast Wi-Fi and apps that launch in a snap, Roku Select Series TVs get you to your entertainment quickly. You get excellent picture quality, clear sound, automatic updates, and more. It’s simple to use. Hard to outgrow.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
- A world of free entertainment: Enjoy a huge selection of free live TV, news, sports, movies, shows, and much more—all just a click away.
- More streaming, less searching: With personalized picks right on your Home Screen, quick access to the sports and entertainment you watch most, and fast and easy search in one place—the days of endless scrolling are over.
Why ad settings do not necessarily remove banners
Recommendation settings, ad preferences, and advertising IDs change different things. A recommendation mode can reduce personalized rows while leaving sponsored placements. Hiding an ad may only suppress that selected item. Resetting or deleting an advertising ID changes one signal used for personalization, but apps can still show ads based on other information.
DNS filtering: an optional, incomplete workaround
DNS filtering blocks requests to listed advertising or tracking domains. It may reduce some network requests, but it does not reliably remove every banner from a TV interface; effectiveness varies with the device and blocklist, and blocking domains can break app features or services. A 2020 FTC-hosted study tested selected platform datasets and blocklists, so its results should not be read as a current guarantee for every TV. Read the FTC-hosted study for its scope and method.
A quick way to choose the right setting
- Identify the platform and version. Check the TV’s Settings or About screen; menu paths and available controls vary by model and software.
- Decide whether you want to uninstall or hide. If an icon disappears but the app still launches from the apps list, you removed a shortcut rather than the installation.
- For a quieter home screen, use its recommendation or preview controls. Expect sponsored content to remain unless the platform specifically says otherwise.
- For a specific banner, use the ad’s own menu if available. Do not assume that hiding one placement applies to other screens or devices.
- Use network filtering only if you accept possible breakage. It is not a dependable substitute for a platform setting that removes interface content.
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