Why I made this
My kids kept seeing horror-movie trailers in the middle of baseball games. Ad blockers can't stop these, because streaming apps stitch the ads straight into the video. Paying for "no ads" doesn't remove them during live sports either.
So instead of trying to block the ads, this gives you a one-press way to cover them up.
What it does
Will it work on my TV?
It works on TVs and streaming sticks that run Google TV, Android TV or Fire TV. A quick way to tell: if your home screen says "Google TV" or your remote has a Google Assistant or Alexa button, you're probably good.
| Device | Status |
|---|---|
| Hisense Google TV | ✓ Tested |
| Sony, TCL, Philips & other Google TV / Android TV sets | Should work |
| Chromecast with Google TV, onn 4K, NVIDIA Shield | Should work |
| Amazon Fire TV sticks & Fire TV TVs | Should work |
| Roku, Samsung, LG, Apple TV, Vizio | ✗ Not possible |
Install it (no computer needed)
Everything happens on your TV with the remote.
You'll type this in step 3.
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Get the free "Downloader" app
On your TV, open the app store, search for Downloader (orange icon, by AFTVnews) and install it.
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Let Downloader install apps
Google TV / Android TV: Settings → Apps → Security & restrictions → Unknown sources → turn on Downloader.
Fire TV: Settings → My Fire TV → Developer options → Install unknown apps → turn on Downloader.
Don't see Developer options on Fire TV? Go to Settings → My Fire TV → About and press OK on your device name 7 times, then go back.
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Type the code
Open Downloader, select the address box, type 4540772 and press Go. When it finishes downloading, choose Install, then Open.
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Turn it on
In Not in Front of the Kids, choose Accessibility service. Your TV's settings open: find Not in Front of the Kids, switch it On, then press Back.
See a "Restricted setting" message? Go to Settings → Apps → Not in Front of the Kids, choose Allow restricted settings (it may be under ⋮ or near the bottom), then try again.
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Pick your button
Choose Shield button, then press the remote button you want to use. That's it.
Good picks: an app button you never use (YouTube, Prime, Disney+…) or a color button. If your pick also opens its app, choose a different one.
Using it
- Ad comes on: press your button. Screen covered, sound off.
- Game's back: press it again, or press Back.
- Forgot? It lifts itself after 5 minutes. You can change that in the app.
Questions
Is it safe? Why does it need "accessibility"?
Accessibility is the Android permission that lets an app notice remote button presses. Not in Front of the Kids only listens for the one button you pick. It has no internet permission at all, so it can't send anything anywhere, and it's set up so it can't read your screen. All the code is public on GitHub, and every download is built and signed in public.
Does it block or skip ads?
No. The ad still plays underneath; your screen is just covered while it does. It's like pressing mute and throwing a blanket over the TV.
I can still hear the ad.
Some soundbars connected by HDMI ARC or optical control their own volume, so the TV's mute doesn't reach them. Use your soundbar's mute too.
Pressing my button does nothing.
Open Not in Front of the Kids and check the service still says "On ✓". Some remote buttons are handled by the TV's hardware and Android never sees them. If the app doesn't react when you pick the button, try a different one.
How do I remove it?
Settings → Apps → Not in Front of the Kids → Uninstall. Nothing is left behind.
Can it detect commercials automatically?
Not reliably. Streaming apps protect their video so other apps can't see it, and the ads are stitched right into the stream. One button you control is the honest version that works everywhere.