I got tired of Google adding stuff to my home screen so I'm using a custom launcher now and honestly, it wasn't hard to setup?
Now the only things I use are front and center and I have a cute picture of a fox to look at instead of ads.
I'll post a quick how-to on how to setup Android TV with a custom launcher below the cut
So you want a custom launcher for your Android TV
so FAIR WARNING I've done like 0 research on these apps, I just sorta. Blindly trusted guides I found online. So use at your own risk on these. I have a Sony Bravia tv, so if you don't have that TV, things might be slightly different (in other menus, etc) but the general process should be the same.
The process is basically:
- Download and test a launcher
- Turn on developer settings and USB debugging
- Download "Downloader by AFTVnews" and let it install APK's
- Install Launcher Manager
- Set your new launcher as the default launcher via Launcher Manager
Download a launcher
No matter what you choose, download the app and run it from the stock android launcher. That way you know if it'll work on your tv or not.
This is probably the most annoying part, figuring out what launcher to use. I basically just searched "Android tv launcher" on duckduckgo and found some apps to look into.
I settled on ATV Launcher Pro, because I saw it mentioned several times and it looked decently clean. I'm Decently happy with it - it's not 100% how I wish my tv looked, but that's mostly layout things, like wishing there was more space at the top. I think a lot of it is just getting used to the new layout.
(it does look like the free version of ATV Launcher got delisted - so you have to cough up 3 bucks to try it out. I was feeling fiesty, even though I already lost 5 bucks on Primal TV launcher, but fyi that you can't test it before you buy).
I the screneshots of Primal TV Launcher but when I bought and downloaded it, it wouldn't work; it would always close after like a second of me opening it. No idea why. I assumed it just wouldn't work then and uninstalled it, since I didn't want to end up bricking my tv if it always crashed and was forced to be my home screen. So I'd avoid this one.
FLauncher is a Free, Open Source launcher that looks decently customizable. Honestly, after looking at it more, I probably should have gone with this, but I like my tv as is and I'm done futzing with it. (...unless FLauncher can do a wallpaper gallery it switches between every day. Then I might go switch to it.)
There's others too, these are just the ones I know about. ATV Launcher Pro will probably work, that's what I'm using.
Download Downloader by AFTVnews
- Go to the google play store
- Search "Downloader"
- Install the "Downloader by AFTVnews" app
- In your main tv settings menu, go to Settings > Apps > Security and Restrictions > Unknown Sources and turn Downloader on (this might be different on non-Sony tv's? https://techyoulike.com/how-do-i-enable-unknown-sources-on-my-tv/
Turn on developer settings and USB debugging
- Figure out where the "About" menu is on your tv - for me, it's Settings > Device Preferences > About
- Scroll down to the Android TV OS build and click it a bunch until it turns on developer mode
- Go to the developer settings menu - for me, it's in Settings > Device Preferences > Developer settings. Scroll down to "USB Debugging" and turn it on.
Download Launcher Manager
This is a slimmed down version of https://troypoint.com/launcher-manager/
- In downloader, type the code 250931 - this is the code to get you to Troypoint's list of apk's
- Wait for it to redirect you to the Troypoint list of APK's
- Scroll down to Launcher Manager for Android TV and install it
Use launcher manager
Have you tested your launcher by opening it from the stock android launcher? because you should do that.
If you get stuck with a launcher that breaks, I have 0 idea how to fix it and I won't know how to help you fix it.
Test your launcher.
- When you first open launcher manager, it might ask to turn on ADB Debugging. If it does, go to the developer settings and turn on USB Debugging. (It's the same setting with different names).
- When the Allow USB Debugging popup comes up, click ok. (I have no idea what magic is happening here, but it's basically pretending to be a computer hooked into your tv now. somehow. I'm just happy it works.)
- In launcher manager, click Enable Custom Launcher
- Click Custom Launcher Options and change the Active Launcher to your chosen launcher. For me, that's ATV Launcher.
- Click back to the main menu of Launcher manager to save
- Click home on your remote and see your new home screen! no ads! no weird google stuff!
Enjoy your ad free home screen now!!!
