Xiaomi’s PatchWall shell has become an integral part of the firmware of most of the brand’s TVs, starting with Mi models. TV 4 and Redmi Smart TV. It offers a user-friendly interface with content recommendations, streaming integration and a voice assistant, but not everyone likes its obsessive behavior: constant notifications, banner ads and limited home screen customization. If you are looking for a way to bring back classic Android TV-interface or just want to get rid of unnecessary elements – this article is for you.
It’s important to understand that not all models can remove PatchWall completely without consequences. The manufacturer actively blocks such manipulations through firmware updates, so some methods may require root access or rollback to the old version of the software. We’ve collected current methods that work on most devices in 2026, including the Mi TV Q2 2023, Redmi Smart TV X2022 and earlier versions. Before you start, familiarize yourself with possible risks and prepare the TV for changes.
Why do users want to disable PatchWall?
The main claims against the PatchWall shell are related to its aggressive monetization and restrictions:
- 📺 Intrusive Ads: Subscription banners, partner ads (Netflix, Prime Video) and contextual ads take up to 30% of the screen.
- 🔄 Impossibility of customization: Fixed location of widgets, lack of free placement of applications.
- 🐢 Slowdown: The shell consumes up to 500 MB of RAM in the background, which is critical for budget models with 1-1.5 GB of memory.
- 🔒 Restriction of rights: Blocking of installation APK from third-party sources, forced updates.
According to a survey of Xiaomi TV owners (2023), 68 percent of respondents cited PatchWall as the main cause of inconvenience when using a TV, especially for users who are used to “clean” Android TV on devices of other brands (Nvidia Shield, Sony Bravia).
Method 1: Disconnect via TV settings (without root)
The most secure method that works on most Xiaomi Mi TV and Redmi Smart TV models (MIUI TV 3.0+ firmware) does not remove PatchWall completely, but allows you to hide its main elements and switch to minimalist mode:
- Open Settings → Accounts and Security → Special features.
- Select the Special Opportunity Service.
- Find PatchWall (or com.mitv.tvhome) and turn off the slider.
- Reboot the TV through Settings → About TV → Reboot.
Once rebooted, the interface will be closer to the standard Android TV, but some features (such as voice search) may not work properly. This method is reversible: to return PatchWall, you just need to re-enable the service in the settings.
☑️ Preparing for the shutdown of PatchWall
Method 2: Install a third-party launcher (ATV Launcher, Sideload Launcher)
If you don't like PatchWall's design, but you don't want to risk the stability of the system, the best solution is to install an alternative launcher.
- 📱 ATV Launcher: Minimalist interface with support for widgets and fast access to applications. Suitable for Xiaomi TV Android 9-12.
- 🎮 Sideload Launcher: Optimized for gaming consoles, but it works on TVs. APK, including.
- 🖥️ Leanback Launcher: Google’s standard launcher that is used on Nvidia Shield and other Android devices TV.
To install a third-party launcher:
- Download. APK-launcher USB-drive (for example, from the APKMirror website).
- Connect the flash drive to the TV and open the File Manager (or ES Explorer, if installed).
- Start the APK installation by pre-allowing installation from unknown sources in Settings → Security.
- After installation, go back to Settings → Applications → Default Launcher and select a new launcher.
💡
If the TV doesn’t allow you to install an APK, try using the Send Files to TV app (available on Google Play) to transfer files from your phone.
Note that some launchers may not support Xiaomi’s remote control (such as the Home button), in which case you will need to use a mouse or keyboard connected via Bluetooth.
Method 3: Reverse the firmware to a version without PatchWall
Xiaomi TVs released before 2020 (e.g. Mi TV 4A, Mi TV 4S) initially installed firmware without PatchWall or with a simplified version of it. If your device received an update that added a shell, you can return the old version of the software.
- ⚠️ Loss of warranty (if the TV is guaranteed).
- ⚠️ Incompatibility with new apps (e.g. Disney)+ YouTube may require fresh firmware).
- ⚠️ Possible "brick" (turning the TV into a "brick") with an incorrect rollback.
Instructions for rollback:
- Download the required firmware version from the official Xiaomi website (support section for your model) or from the 4PDA forum.
- Unpack. ZIP-archive and place the file update.zip root USB-storage device (formatted in FAT32).
- Connect the flash drive to the TV and go to Settings → About TV → System Update → Local Update.
- Select update.zip and confirm installation. Do not turn off the TV during the process (it will take 5-10 minutes).
List of firmware without PatchWall
After rollback, it is recommended to disable automatic update in the settings, otherwise the TV may re-install PatchWall. To do this, go to Settings → About TV → System Update and deactivate the Auto Update option.
Method 4: PatchWall Blocking via ADB (for Advanced Users)
If you are familiar with the command line, you can disable PatchWall using the ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method does not require root rights, but it will require a computer and a computer. USB-cable (or Wi-Fi connection).
Steps:
- Turn on USB debugging on your TV: Go to Settings → About TV. Find the Build Number and click on it 7 times until the message "You're a developer!" appears. Go back to Settings → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
USB 3.0
adb devicesMake sure the device is identified (should appear its serial number).
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.mitv.tvhomeadb shell rebootTo return PatchWall, use the command:
adb shell pm enable com.mitv.tvhome💡
The ADB method is reversible and does not require root rights, but after resetting the TV to the factory settings PatchWall will return.
Method 5: Completely remove PatchWall (requires root access)
This is the most radical method that permanently removes PatchWall from the TV, and it's only suitable for power users, because it requires unlocking the bootloader and getting root rights.
- ⚠️ Loss of warranty and possibility of "brick" device.
- ⚠️ Some system features (such as Mi Remote or Game Controller) may stop working.
- ⚠️ Lack of official firmware updates.
Instructions:
- Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account and device binding).
- Install custom recovery (such as TWRP) for your TV model.
- Download and run through recovery ZIP-file with Magisk to obtain root rights.
- Install a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer) and delete the following folders: /system/priv-app/TVHome /system/app/TVHome
- Restart the TV. PatchWall will be removed, but you will need to install an alternative launcher manually.
The XDA-Developers and 4PDA forums have ready-made firmware with remote PatchWall for popular models, for example, the Mi TV Q1E has a modified firmware MIUI TV 2.0 without the shell.
What if the TV is not turned on after removing PatchWall?
Comparison of methods: which one to choose?
To help determine the best way, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each method:
| Method | Difficulty | Need root? | Reversibility | Risks. | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disconnection through settings | ⭐ | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | Low. | Hide elements, but does not remove them completely |
| Third-party launcher | ⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | Medium (possible remote glitch) | Complete interface replacement |
| Firmware rollback | ⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | ✅ Yeah (firmware re-run) | High (brick risk) | Returns a “clean” Android TV |
| ADB-team | ⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | Low. | Disable PatchWall before reset |
| Removal through root | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | Very high. | Complete removal without possibility of return |
For most users, the best solution would be to install a third-party launcher (method 2) or disable via ADB (method 4), which requires no deep technical knowledge and allows you to return everything back if necessary. If you are willing to risk stability for the sake of complete control, consider rolling back firmware or root.
Frequent problems and their solutions
When you turn off PatchWall, you're faced with common errors, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:
- 🔄 The TV automatically returns PatchWall after the update: ⚠️ Warning: To prevent this, turn off automatic updates to Settings → On TV. → System Update: If the update is already installed, try rolling back to the previous firmware version.
- 🎮 Home, Menu buttons do not work: This is due to a launcher conflict. Solution: install the Button Mapper app from Google Play and reassign the buttons manually. For example, the Home button can be linked to the launch of the selected launcher.
- 📱 Not installed. APK-Files: Check if Unknown Sources are included in Settings → If the TV is blocking the installation, try using it. ADB for manual installation: adb install path/to/file.apk.
- 🔒 Requests to log in to Mi Account after reset: ⚠️ Note: On some models (Mi) TV 5 Pro, Q2) After the reset, you need to enter a login and password from the Mi Account that was previously associated. If you do not remember the data, use the recovery service or contact support.
If none of the methods worked, or the TV started to work unstable, return the factory settings: Settings → About TV → Data Reset. This will delete all user data, but restore the system to work.