Source
r/ShieldAndroidTV•
endtheme

SHIELD Experience 9 has ruined my SHIELD

Since the update in January 2022 my Shield went from very responsive and snappy (never had a complaint about it) to slow, sluggish, laggy, and often unusable on Kodi (constant video jutter, lag and entire system freezes requiring constant reboots). I basically don't even use my Shield anymore. It's not just on Kodi either. The home screen UI is quite laggy. It now feels like an ancient piece of hardware trying to run a modern operating system.

Is there anything I can do to return this to it's optimal state prior to the January 2022 release? I am running the third hotfix 9.0.2 (33.1.0.319).

Shield 2017

Posted Apr 4, 2022, 3:02 PM UTC · edited

79147
[deleted]•

[deleted]

36
ATropicalFish•

Moved from Apple TV to Shield as Apple TV didn’t do the Dolby Atmos stuff I wanted, all I can say is what a disappointment. There are glimpses of greatness with the Shield, but running version 9 of Shield experience is not great, Plex is always crashing or can’t finder the server and I’m constant having to reboot the Shield, when it works it’s great, but Apple TV works every time all the time.

15
korewa•

I went appletv too just happens to be that I bought into the whole ecosystem. Having no ads is great.

Shield is still in the theater for lossless audio, and AI sharpening is useful on a large screen. I’ve had a plex server since 2015.

Devices have their strengths use them. :)

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
intense_username•

Bought Shield due to being highly recommended. Was quickly disappointed. I don't have a TV in the house that doesn't have an Apple TV with it at this point.

1
arslet•

Steam Link exists on Apple TV

1
prabjots072019 Pro•

I don’t do game stream, sideloading or emulation either. If Apple tv could support all audio video formats as Shield then i would love to switch.

1
PalebloodSky2019 Pro•

Google almost trolls Android customers with how buggy and inconsistent this OS can be. Yet below all that it's a useful and powerful OS. It's really pathetic they dragged Nvidia into their unsupported pile of shit.

That said I still love my Shield TV Pro. After a factory reset, and Hotfix 3, the issues of Android 11 are mostly ironed out.

31
proscreations1993•

Yeah I love my shield. I want to upgrade to the new pro tho I have a 2017 model. So no ai upscale or DV. I have 4k movies on plex. Anything that was released 4k hdr dv etc is a full remux and it can only play them in hdr10 it seems right now. So hopefully the new one will play dv right but I've also hear plex cant play dv properly. Idk

I just want native qobuz app and 24/192 audio support from the damn thing. I'm an audiophile and if I could use my shield for everything liek streaming music to my pre amp that's be amazing. It works for tidal except tidal sounds like shit compared to qobuz.

1
doubletwist•

Every time I see one of these threads I find myself thankful that I disabled automatic updates and am still on 8.

29
NebDakFly•

One of the first things I do with every device I buy is turn off auto updates. I will wait and do some research on new versions before I update. Been burned enough time over the years I'm also running Wolf Launcher, so no ads for me either.

8
arslet•

The Android way

4
dllemmr2•

Don’t that open you up to security exploits for everything on your home network?

5
doubletwist•

Generally speaking I do update everything. My shield is at the last update of 8 before 9 came out, so it's not super far behind.

It's only issues like this, where a major update causes issues for a lot of people, that I will hold off on updating. At least until the issues are resolved or I decide it's not going to get fixed, at which time I'll either cross my fingers and update or I'll decide to move on to another, better supported solution.

It's also only certain high visibility devices that we use frequently that I turn off automatic updates for. Most of my stuff does keep auto updates on.

And lastly, I've been in IT for 26 years. My network is significantly segregated and protected in other ways as well.

1
LuigiBull28•

How?

-3†
doubletwist•

I don't recall off the top of my head. It's in the settings somewhere. I turned it off like 2 years ago and have done manual updates since then.

I'm sure Google could give you specifics.

4
PalebloodSky2019 Pro•

You can turn off auto updates right in settings.

4
Somhlth2017 Pro•

Yes, but now you get wonderful ads. ^^^^^/s

23
Large___Marge•

I didn't even notice them until people started complaining on here. I'm on my homescreen for all of 2 seconds when opening apps for the first time; once open I use the task switcher, and never see the home screen.

3
TheSCientist99•

I factory reset mine and signed up for the hotfixes, none of it worked. This sub is a bit defensive over it but the shield simply isn't a good piece of kit. I just moved on and found other solutions. You could invest 10 hours of troubleshooting for a chance of solving the problems, but is that really what you paid for?

20
Large___Marge•

Rollback to 8.2.3 using the Recovery Images on NVIDIA's website. That's what I did, and it's working great.

7
endthemeOP•

> I just moved on and found other solutions

as in different hardware? if so what are you using now?

6
TheSCientist99•

Got a new TV and use the built in streaming.

The main purpose of the shield for me was to stream games from a local PC. Now I just sit at the PC. I also got a PS5 for couch gaming. It's annoying not to be able to play gamepass games on TV but if I care enough I'll just get an Xbox to put under the TV.

I really feel bitter toward Nvidia, they bricked my device and I feel I deserve a refund, but I've invested so much time in troubleshooting that fucking thing I just can't be arsed and have moved on.

7
sittingmongoose•

Problem is no device besides the shield supports lossless audio and Dolby vision.

1
Large___Marge•

How did your device get bricked? Did you try reflashing it?

1
TheSCientist99•

Also I noticed you got 22 comments and no upvotes, goes to show how rabid this sub is because you dared say something negative 😂

1†
endthemeOP•

yeah i noticed it was getting down votes and just assumed it was due to my whiney crybaby type post. i'm not active in this sub but whatever, i really liked the shield until the January updates made it functionally obsolete.

10
Large___Marge•

You can rollback to 8.2.3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yHvOotwRjw

1
techno_superbowl•

I use a Gen 8 NUC for twitch watching/game streaming/retro emulation from the couch and found it to be a vastly better experience than Shield. I still use shield as the primary streaming box.

For me I factory defaulted after the 9 upgrade, then installed a launcher.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
techno_superbowl•

I separated the two functions on my home theatre: Streaming vs Gaming/Interactive. Streaming I still use the Shield: Netflix, hulu, HBO, Plex (client not server). It works, it passes the wife simplicity test, and there are no compromises.

For Interactive stuff I use the NUC: (live twitch where I engage with chat, zoom events, game streaming from a pc elsewhere in house). I bought a cheap logitech wireless mini keyboard that has a touch pad on it to control the NUC and then use a PS4 controller for gaming on it. For Gaming streaming I use moonlight and it works fine on my cabled LAN.

1
Large___Marge•

You're comparing a full blown x86-64 PC with Windows to an Arm streaming box using Android, of course it's going to be vastly better.

0
techno_superbowl•

Yet they cost me about the same amount of money and take up the same amount of real estate on my home theatre shelf.

1
TheSCientist99•

Got a new TV and use the built in streaming.

The main purpose of the shield for me was to stream games from a local PC. Now I just sit at the PC. I also got a PS5 for couch gaming. It's annoying not to be able to play gamepass games on TV but if I care enough I'll just get an Xbox to put under the TV.

I really feel bitter toward Nvidia, they bricked my device and I feel I deserve a refund, but I've invested so much time in troubleshooting that fucking thing I just can't be arsed and have moved on.

-2†
Large___Marge•

How'd they brick your device? Did you try reflashing it?

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

3
Large___Marge•

Rollback to 8.2.3 using the Recovery Images on NVIDIA's website. That's what I did, and it's working great.

4
moldymoosegoose•

I have four of them. The tube models were shit before update 9. One of the worst tech products I ever bought.

1
dllemmr2•

Sounds like the update worked well for you.

1
Large___Marge•

Rollback to 8.2.3 using the Recovery Images on NVIDIA's website.

Edit: here's a guide for Windows and Mac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yHvOotwRjw

20
duty_of_brilliancy•

None of the manuals for that seemed to work… how does one downgrade it reliably with precautions that it won’t update afterwards?

I couldn’t get adb to recognize the shield, super frustrating.

8
Large___Marge•

Here's a guide for Windows and Mac. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yHvOotwRjw

Flashback, then follow any of the other instructions posted around this sub to disable updates.

1
krayzebone•

I want to, but can’t as I only own mac computers atm.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
Large___Marge•

I did it from my Mac. Here's a guide for PC and Mac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yHvOotwRjw

1
krayzebone•

Is a controller required for this? I have the 2019 Pro model, it didn’t come with a controller.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
DaveR007•

You can use a USB keyboard.

1
Large___Marge•

Turns out you can use a USB keyboard. Here's some info: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/root-the-shield-tv-2017-without-nvidia-shield-controller-possible.3711504/

1
sbkg0002•

Wondering also how to do this with a Mac or Linux system.

1
Large___Marge•

here's a guide for PC and Mac. Linux will be similar to Mac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yHvOotwRjw

1
fehmi1907•

Have you tried to factory reset your Shield? If that does not help, you can downgrade to Shield Experience 8:

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/481714/request-for-a-way-to-downgrade-to-nvidia-8/3198835/

9
endthemeOP•

Not yet. I'll give it a shot if a factory reset doesn't help, though after installing the latest Hotfixes they do warn that there is no way to roll them back.

0†
phoenixdigita1•

Mine went from laggy back to snappy after factory reset.

6
Large___Marge•

There's no way to roll back without reflashing from the bootloader.

1
fnurrreee•

Sign up to Hotfix patch, it sped up my Shield Pro.

Enter serial number HERE

7
endthemeOP•

I did that already. I'm on the third hotfix. No difference for me.

13
whisp8•

Same. Literally every day I find something new broken that was working -perfectly fine- before. I'm surprised there isn't a class action lawsuit announced already. The device is hardly operating at all.

9
cacti61•

totally agree == been waiting for correction with their high tech area and seems as if they throw something against the wall and hope it sticks,

so far it's not sticking. $200.00 for the shield and now very disappointed in something that worked great for months.

1
Empyrealist•

Did you factory reset after installing 9?

8
endthemeOP•

Not yet. It's on my to do list.

2†
Empyrealist•

Many of us had to to clear these kinds of problems

9
safeathome3•

I applied hotfixes and while it fixed some issues, the whole system felt laggy and unresponsive on a comparitive basis from when I first got the Shield. I did the reset and now it's running very well indeed. But I've heard others did not have the same luck! i'm running the 2019 version of Shield Pro. Hope it works out for you as I understand only too well how frustrating it can be.

3
Optimus_Prime_Day•

Are most of you who have lagginess post updates, using USB drives or Samba connections?

6
WilhelmStroker•

Mine was quite laggy, but after a factory reset it's working fine again.

5
fiveSE7EN•

I see this as a solution in the sub but - that’s a huge pain in the ass for people who are running it as a plex server.

You will lose all of your metadata about the stuff you’ve watched (or not). Any manually-fixed matches for posters or updated titles. Any collections or playlists. Any specific settings for encoding or playback, library management options etc.

Just a ridiculous thing to be expected to do, frankly. I would rather Nvidia figures out what the problem is. Actually, I would rather that they never released 9 in such an absolutely atrocious state that outright bricked so many people’s sole use case for the shield.

15
Large___Marge•

Backup your plex DB, and restore it after the factory reset.

1
fiveSE7EN•

but even accessing shield internal storage over the network has been removed in Shield 9+. So you have to do this over FTP with a paid app, what a pain in the ass. Yes, if it was a matter of national security I would do it, but it’s still inexcusable for nvidia to push the software in this state.

1
Large___Marge•

I completely agree, it shouldn't have been released like this.

I was able to access the Shield's storage from my Mac over SMB on 9.0.3 just the same as previous versions. Are you on the latest hotfix? Alternatively, you could just plug in a USB flash drive, use a file manager, and copy the plex folder from /sdcard/Android/.data to the flash drive, then copy it back after you've flashed the shield back to 8.2.3.

1
hokeyplyr48•

For some this works, sadly for me it didn’t change anything. I was hopeful but even without installing anything extra, not running a Plex server on it, etc. it still was a laggy experience. I moved away from fire tv because I didn’t want lags just scrolling through menus…but here we are again. Seems all these boxes need a 5950x in them for how poorly optimized the code they’re shipping now is.

1
Large___Marge•

Roll back to 8.2.3. That's what I did and it's working great.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

5
Large___Marge•

If you downgraded using ADB/fastboot, your Play Store apps were wiped and reinstalled.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
grivad•

Bummer. I guess I'm one of the fortunate ones that has always installed the latest SE, has never had to reset, ever, on any Shield (OG, 2017, 2019), and has had a silky smooth experience with zero issues ever.

Absolutely LOVE my Shield.

5
antilog17•

I must be in the minority with u/grivad because I have the same situation. Only thing SHIELD 9 did that I didn't like was the ad thing. I also don't have a complex setup (no 4k TV, etc.)

1
vinarian-•

I have two shield TV 2019 pros, one on a 4k TV, one on a 1080p TV, I have a 1tb USB drive on each, I regularly use Kodi, gamestream, and Plex. The Plex server and all my media is stored on a NAS system. I recently stopped using Plex, but that is because it is redundant with Kodi. I have the NAS drives set up as external network storage through the shield options menu, and use that to access my media on one of my shield TV's and I use it as a samba share for Kodi on the other TV. I had to enable a feature via the shield options in order to access my media after the update. I also use RetroArch regularly, which also needed that setting enabled. I have the GameCube and ps1 ISO on my external drives, but the rest on the roms on the NAS.

The ONLY issue that I have with either shield is that I get random, unexplainable lag spikes while using gamestream. Both shield are using separate SSID access points, one through an archer ax6000 router, and the other through the xfi gateway. My gaming computer is an Alienware R10 with a Ryzen 9 and a 3080, so the lag is not causing it.

I may be the minority, but since I can't explain the weird latency in gamestream and never tried it untill after the update, I have zero complaints against the shield update.

1
shteve99•

Mine are fine too. 2019 Tube on a 1080p and 2019 pro on a 4K TV. Centralised NAS with all drives as NTFS, no USB drives attached to the Shields. Emby and Kodi for the NAS streaming.

1
bobsmagicbeans•

Same with me. Running 9.0.1 with Kodi just fine.

No ads on the homescreen. All is well.

1
osmin_og•

Same here, never had any issue. Even after the update.

0
zeronull11•

Which year and model is your shield?

4
endthemeOP•

2017

2
zeronull11•

Is it Pro (500gb) or base (16gb)?

3
endthemeOP•

base model

2
zeronull11•

Thanks. Please recreate the responsiveness isssue on the home screen and as soon as you do, please go to settings - dp - about - send feedback to NVIDIA and put "reddit endtheme sluggish" in the comment and let me know when you've done this. It would also help if you could take a video with your phone and share a link to it with me.

7
ClearlyNoSTDs•

I did a factory reset and it's like new for me. Pretty shitty that I needed to do that though.

4
sbkg0002•

Tried mine, still a shitstorm of lags and stutter.

2
tychosmoose•

Mine too. Tube was hopeless after the update, even after factory reset. Earlier Pro has been fine.

3
Jaybonaut•

After you do the factory reset, go back and make sure you disable ipv6. Most of my problems went away after that because the updates re-enabled it. Now I reboot once a week just like I could a year ago. Such a simple thing, I know it sounds silly but others have chimed in on this as well after the updates.

3
PoinDexter03•

Mine turned into a peice of Shit!! I've never had any complaints about mine until that update.. Green screens, pink flickering, all kinds of weird stuff happening.. I've changed everything I could and no results. I quit using mine until they figure out how to solve something that they messed up

3
mVran•

This update went from like android tv 8 to android tv 11. it skipped like 2 android updates. It is wise to do a factory reset. Try it.

2†
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
skinnySpeaks•

I was very close to re-flashing 8.2.3 to my brand new device I got today. I signed up for the hotfix and it seemed to fix my biggest issue (pairing a Nintendo Pro Controller via bluetooth) so I'm somewhat happy, but I did notice immediately how slow the menus were and the obnoxious home screen ads.

I found that if you follow these steps the homescreen is replaced with a simpler (I assume the old) home screen:

  1. Disable automatic updates from the google play store
  2. Settings -> Apps -> Show All -> System Apps
  3. Find "Android TV Home" or something like that
  4. Force stop and clear cache
  5. Find "Google Play Services"
  6. Force stop, disable, and clear cache
  7. Reboot

​

I guess the downside is apps wont automatically update but I can live with that.

​

Update: Pro controller paired, but the input lag makes it unusable to play games with. Ordered an Xbox controller hoping it will work better.

2
Awhispersecho1•

Make sure your TV switched to game mode because if not, that could be the cause of the input lag.

1
skinnySpeaks•

That seemed to help a ton, I couldn’t find the setting at first it was buried so deep in the menus, damn roku TVs…

2
Large___Marge•

Why wait? I flashed back to 8.2.3 and it's night and day. Disappointed I didn't do it sooner.

1
Very_Tas•

I had all kinds of issues, even with the hotfixes and finally decided to bite the bullet and flash back to 8.2.3. I had the same issue that some others did in that device manager said Shield TV but after I unlocked the bootloader and issued adb devices -l, I got nothing listed. When I issued adb reboot bootloader the response was 'no device or emulator' and spent a few hours on google trying to find an answer.

Eventually, I just started to issue the flash commands to flash the shield and it worked. I relocked the bootloader and rebooted and saw the Android 9 boot animation. Sure wish I hadn't wasted hours relying on all the posts here that said 'make sure you're still connected after you unlock the bootloader!'

I did have an issue after I reinstalled kodi that every time I had it scan my external USB3 drive for new content, it would close back to home screen. So I once again reset to factory state and now it FINALLY works again.

The posts saying that it would take 2 hours to erase and reset to factory state were total bunk. The whole flashing process took about 10 minutes. But I guess YMMV.

1
Symys•

I'm a new Nvidia shield tv pro owner (bought friday and installed sunday). After reading about the new patch, I tried to avoid it during the initial setup but wasn't able to prevent from isntalling it.

Did a factory reset and retried setup but I'm still on 9.0.1 and I can't access my USB stick in retroarch (bought the shield for emulating and video play which worked great in VLC on my external HDD.. I'm coming from a PS4 which didn't support many format so it's a great upgrade.

Might try to rollback to 8.2.3 with the image to make retroarch work.

However, if I do a factory reset, I won't be at 8.2.3 I presume? Scrapping the shield isn't much for now since I have a couple of apps downloaded and a ps4 controller paired.

Disappointed on the android 11 update for sure :(

2
juzmafia•

If you haven't, try sideload latest stable version of RetroArch v1.10.2 which supposed to fix the storage issue from their website and SE 9.0.1 Hotfix #3 should also has the Document UI external storage folder issue(may or may not related to this issue) fixed. Since 9.0.2 public release will be available soon so might wait for it but RetroArch app still need to be updated to v1.10.2.

RetroArch v1.10.2(choose aarch64): https://buildbot.libretro.com/stable/1.10.2/android/

However, if I do a factory reset, I won't be at 8.2.3 I presume?

It will remain at latest OS installed.

1
Symys•

I'll look into sideloading retroarch thanks!

I was planning on using another font also (Dig, Reset collection or lemuroid). Not sure if it would help on the storage problem or if it would be for nothing.

At least Dolphin is working so I was able to try Gamecube emulation. Didn't try Redream yet.

2