Mecool KM9 Pro Deluxe

The Mecool KM9 Pro Deluxe (made by VideoStrong) is an inexpensive Android TV Box. It's hardware is more powerful than the Xiaomi Mi Box S 4K with a similar price tag, but is not Netflix certified, which means you cannot use the Netflix app made for Android TV. This Box is excellent, runs fast and stable, and features a Blutooth voice enabled Remote. The Box can also be controlled with an IR Remote and features an Ethernet port. Read Xiaomi Mi Box S 4K (AndroidTV 9) with Kodi and Netflix for installation and setup instructions of the Xiaomi Box.

Hardware & Software

Mecool KM9 Pro Deluxe (aka Box), RAM: 4GB, ROM: 32GB, USB3 & Ethernet port.
Logitech Harmony Companion (aka Harmony) which controls TV, Amp, and media player.
Logitech K400+ Keyboard (aka Keyboard) which allows comfortable text imput.
Android 9

Setup

Set When to start (30 minutes: time until screensaver gets activated), Screen saver (Backdrop), and Put device to sleep (never) in Settings → Device Preferences → Screen saver
Set Language to English (United States) or German (Switzerland) in Settings → Device Preferences → Language
Sign in to your Google account in Settings → Accounts & Sign In
Do not update to Android 10+ if you can avoid it.
Set date and time in Settings → Device Preferences → Date & time
Enable Developer Mode by hitting 8 times on Settings → Device Preferences → About → Build
Connect to the device with Android Debug Bridge
Map keys as explained in Button Mapper
Pair the device with the Harmony Remote

Pre-installed Apps

Android TV Remote Service
Facebook Watch → unused
FX File Explorer
Gallery → unused
Google Play Store
Google Play Games
Google Play Movies & TV
Google Play Music
Live Channels → unused
Movie Player → unused
Netflix v4.12.2
OTA Update → unused
Sideload Launcher → unused
Spotify → unused
YouTube for TV

Disable unused Apps

Above apps belong to the Mecool KM9 Pro Android build and cannot be uninstalled.
Go to the home screen and disable the respective channels.
Go to settings → Apps, then Force stop, Clear data, and Disable them.
If your setup should contains any other apps not in the list below, uninstall those.

Netflix

The Mecool KM9 Pro Deluxe is not a Netflix approved device, and any app installed through Play Store, Aptoid TV, or from an apk file will not allow to stream Netflix on your device…
…except when following my guide for Netflix on a Device not certified

Sideloaded Apps

Go to Android TV App Launcher Builder and create an APK file for the Android TV Launcher and Home Screen. Should the url not be available anymore visit my guide on how to create an Android App with Android Studio. This allows to pin a small Android TV app to the Home Screen, which when started will start the app made for phone/tablet and exit.

Install from Google Play Store

AIDA64
Analiti Speed Test WiFi Analyzer
ATV Launcher Pro
Button Mapper
Haystack News
Kodi (follow the Kodi guide)
LINE TV
OpenVPN for Android (follow the Debian OpenVPN install guide)
TV Memory Cleaner
VLC for Android
Optionally install Android TV Games

Swiss Play Store

Zattoo TV, must be installed from Swiss app store over VPN (geoblocked) or when located in Switzerland
Download the latest version of the apk file from APKMirror to avoid changing twice the app store
Run the Zattoo app over VPN (geoblocked) or when located in Switzerland

Install from apk file

Install Firefox for TV
SSHelper 13.2 from Apkpure (will not work in Android 10+)
Download and install U-Play TV app (Thailand), must be run over VPN (geoblocked) or when located in Thailand. Select link “Try new app” which is Android TV compatible.
Install the Netflix Launcher created before, or download it from here.

Optional install from apk file

These apps are listed for reference and not needed for a regular TV Box install.

Aptoide TV 5.1.2 app store from Aptoide TV
KeyEvent Display 1.0.26 from Apkpure
Disk Speed / Performance Test from Apkpure to test the speed of a USB drive vs internal storage
Storage Analyzer & Disk Usage 4.1.0.9 from Apkpure
SMBSync2 from Apkpure to automate copying Kodi Databases or other folders between your file server and the Box. You can establish configs which copy Kodi Databases from samba shares to USB and vice versa.
LAN drive - SAMBA Server & Client from Apkpure

ATV Launcher Pro Setup

Align apps on the first level home screen. Kodi, YouTube, LINE TV, Haystack News, Firefox TV, TV Memory Cleaner, VLC, OpenVPN, Zattoo, ATV Launcher.
Align apps on the second level home screen.
Change to 7 rows to align size of banners.
Create folder System and move all apps which should only be used by the system admin into it. Color: 25, 255, 255, 255.
Create folder TV and move all TV apps into it. Color: 0, 0, 100, 255.
Create folder Media and move all media apps and Kodi into it. Color: 210, 160, 140, 255.
Create folder Games and move all game apps into it. Color: 40, 255, 255, 255.
Create folder Unused and move unused apps into it. Color: 0, 215, 200, 255.

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