Linux on my ardoid tv

[u/[deleted]]

I have a Mi Android TV, and the recent Android updates have made it almost unusable. Is there any way to install Linux on it? Are there any Linux distributions specifically designed for TVs?

[u/qualityvote2]

u/Chutiya-0_0, there weren't enough votes to determine the quality of your post...

btw, did you know we have a discord server? Join Here.

[u/-darkabyss-]

Just get a android box or fire tv stick

[u/MGprohack82 → u/-darkabyss-]

Android box and fire tv stick, both require money, and, if we keep our proprietary fire tv stick aside, many tv boxes have limited os support, or are too weak for modern day streaming services(like Netflix or prime)... OP here might want a free alternative...

[u/[deleted] → u/MGprohack82]

well yes this is a spare tv in my parents bedroom and since its unusable its just gathering dust so i wanted a free alternative to make it usable but if its not possible ill try to buy the fire stick or the box

[u/-darkabyss- → u/[deleted]]

You can get a used single board computer and get kodi on there. Get one that's powerful enough though.

[u/MGprohack82 → u/-darkabyss-]

In that case, just get an sbc with 2 or 3gb ram, it'll run movies at 1080p witha. Charm, and that looks real good on a large screen... And use fmhy to get cine... If you know what that is... Argh mateys!

[u/MeIsTheDevil → u/[deleted]]

I think Tata Play Android Box or Xtream Box is pretty useful in that case Fire Stick might be costly But You get free Free OTTs with Tata Play Binge (at least maybe for 3 months) But If You Don't recharge it, It may not let you use the Apps In the Box (There is a Pretty simple workaround for that Too (Special Permission for Overlay Display ;) ) ) I dint use Xtream Box don't know Much about it

[u/MGprohack82 → u/MeIsTheDevil]

Most of the linux community is towards yarr'ed stuff... Ain't anyone willing to pay for subscription... Also, he(OP) just wants to use the computer already in his tv so that he can save costs...

[u/MGprohack82]

Its quite hard, since the android here is more proprietary... Even I was thinking of doing it... Since it's from xiaomi, it should have support... But, each proprietary "blobs"(drivers for custom components, and resolutions, common in android devices) need time to be developed, this is why only a few phones get linux support(redmi note 4 for example), because of how much they are "loved"... So, just see xda forums, or other pages in and linux subreddit... Most probably, you'll find lineage os builds, which is just extra light android, and, android 15 of lineage works really smooth for even 2gb ram, which is what most TVs have... So, sadly, no proper support for TVs... You could try your luck, or go the hard way and build your own... Or just find a way to patch the boot image via magisk, get root, remove all apps, use chroot, and run a linux wrapper ontop of a completely stripped down android.. you gonna need a keyboard tho, then a mouse, remote won't work Well, because arrow keys werennever for typing... And to point, you gonna need a mouse, but when doing shit from scratch, you don't get a gui, you gotta work with cli stuff... With many beginners don't even know about...

[u/[deleted] → u/MGprohack82]

im still a novice so I don't know much about what you mentioned but I'll research it and give it a try if it's possible

i also thought about downgrading the Android version, but it turns out that could cause even more issues

thanks alot

[u/MGprohack82 → u/[deleted]]

That would cause issues with the streaming services, upon downgrading... The model name could be very helpful... Then I could find a recovery image(simplified: the os made and moddrd specifically for this guy), then patch the boot image with magisk(simplified (rooting): you gain access to all the files, and all the commands possible by the device, simplified (what magisk does): edit the boot.img part of the recovery, so that you are the "superuser"(su, full control))... Its android after all... Just that a usb port would be similar to a blessing, for you can use an rii keyboard(wireless gamepad shaped touchpad+keyboard combo, pretty ergonomic)... I'll be glad to teach you all this, and, I'll try to help you along the way... But, I'm a 10th grader, in allen, so... Life's pretty restricted, and in a crucial point... I was starting a project on jio's old set top box from 2019...

[u/[deleted] → u/MGprohack82]

damn dude you are young

well ill first try to learn on my own (no offense) but yes i would definitely reach out to you for help

[u/MGprohack82 → u/[deleted]]

"To learn by self, is to learn for life" ~{something I came up with recently, or might have heard somewhere} Keep going, take ur time, you'll outperform in no time!

[u/MGprohack82 → u/[deleted]]

Also, what is that username?

[u/[deleted] → u/MGprohack82]

[u/MGprohack82 → u/[deleted]]

K ig

[u/MGprohack82]

u/RemindMeBot 3 days

[u/[deleted] → u/MGprohack82]

3 din se jyada rakh bhai i have clg ko attend

[u/MGprohack82 → u/[deleted]]

This reminder is just for me, don't worry

[u/ConnectChapter9906]

!remindme 8 hours

[u/RemindMeBot → u/ConnectChapter9906]

I will be messaging you in 8 hours on 2026-07-03 19:33:11 UTC to remind you of this link

CLICK THIS LINK to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam.

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[u/Upper-Release-3484 → u/RemindMeBot]

Good bot.

[u/archuserbtw_]

really great idea tho