Mobile devices aren’t the only tech products to become smarter – some televisions are now called “Smart TVs” because of their smart functions. Google’s Android TV OS includes the stock Android TV launcher, yet it’s very simple and has certain limitations. Thankfully, there are multiple Android TV launcher alternatives available via Google Play. They not only get rid of the limitations but add a bunch of new functions. If you are interested in changing your experience, then check out some of the best Android TV launchers in 2023.
Good to know: not sure whether you should go for an Android TV or Google TV? Check our in-depth comparison post.
Before We Begin
Some launchers do not have an updated framework for the latest Android TV version. Their apps won’t give you the option to set a default launcher. In this case, you should download and install Home Screen Launcher for Android TV, which lets you set the default launcher on your Android TV.
You can also use a Fire TV Stick to get access to various Google Play launcher apps on your Android TV.
1. ATV Launcher
Price: Free / $2.99
ATV Launcher is one of the best Android TV launchers. It provides the user with multiple customization options, like adding weather or time widgets, specific app widgets, custom tiles, different color menus, and wallpapers of your choice. ATV Launcher also has support for D-Pad optimized navigation, letting users easily navigate through the user interface. In addition, it features status bar icons for Wi-Fi, USB, and Bluetooth connections.
The best feature of this third-party launcher is its ability to set custom backgrounds, which is something you won’t find in the stock interface. You can also set the color, image, or transparent background for any application or widget.
Moreover, users can customize the row height, widget scale, and much more. If you need more configuration options, it’s worth paying for the Pro version, which adds the ability to use the app with Android TV boxes, such as Nvidia Shield TV, or mini-PCs such as Beelink GTI1.
2. Primal TV Launcher
Price: $4.99
If you want to bring your TV to life with 4K and 8K backgrounds, Primal TV Launcher offers a huge collection of high-quality images. The launcher has Bing Daily wallpapers and puts you in control of your Android TV device, giving you, arguably, more customization options than any other Android TV launcher app.
Primal TV features a built-in layout editor, which allows you to place apps anywhere on your home screen. You can further customize your Android TV device by adding different home screen styles, each with its unique set of apps. Every other downloaded app can be placed under a category: Video, Music, Games, or Tools.
In spite of many attractive elements, Primal TV Launcher focuses on a minimalist appearance, with just a clock on the home screen. Fortunately, you can add extra widgets from Google Play to view news, live sports, and weather reports.
Tip: did you know that you can use your Android phone as a remote for Android TV? Learn how to set it up.
3. Ugoos TV Launcher
Price: Free
Ugoos TV Launcher is another interesting Android TV launcher alternative. The app has a really clean user interface and will give you an altogether different experience, compared to other Android TV launchers. Once the app is installed, you will see a scrolling wheel on the left side of the screen that lets you browse through the broad categories, such as All Apps, Internet, Games, and Options. If you don’t like the default categories, you can change them.
The app has a remote control and air mouse support. Any highlighted apps will be shown on the right side of the screen. There are multiple color themes to choose from, and all are very neatly designed. You can customize the background of the launcher, either from the list or system wallpapers.
When it comes to the home screen, you can change the border size, icon background, and tile background. It’s also possible to arrange the apps in three, four, or five rows and columns. Overall, this app gives a refreshingly new look to your Android TV.
4. TV Launcher – Smart TV Box
Price: Free / $2.49
If you’ve previously used a Samsung or LG smart TV that runs on its own respective OS, i.e., TizenOS or webOS, and liked the look of the home screen, you will appreciate TV Launcher – Smart TV Box. The layout is similar to the Samsung or LG smart TVs, yet provides some extra functions on top.
You can change the launcher’s overall appearance using custom wallpapers (including video wallpapers), different app backgrounds, remote control sounds, and remote control switches. The app has a minimalist design, which will appeal to many.
All the installed apps are shown in one or more horizontal rows, depending on your preference. Navigate through this list by using the left and right buttons on your Android TV remote. Additionally, customize the background image of your home screen, which is pretty nifty. There’s one problem: the launcher’s free version is prone to crashes. For a more stable user experience, you may need to upgrade to the paid tier.
FYI: learn how to transfer files from your Android phone to a smart TV.
5. Super Smart TV Live Launcher
Price: Free
A minimalist launcher has its perks, for sure, but many people like to use all of the real estate on the television screen. The Super Smart TV Live Launcher can display a bunch of information on the screen, including weather forecasts, trending news and videos, favorite apps, and a list of hardware devices connected to your Android TV.
When you select an app, the dynamic launcher lets you customize its appearance, placement, and background. In other words, you can interact with your TV OS apps in a more granular way than with the stock Android TV. Despite so many elements, the launcher’s interface doesn’t feel cluttered. Its app tray easily blends into your screen background, giving you enough space to make phone calls or use Google Assistant.
Like a few other television launchers on our list, Super Smart TV allows you to select from multiple wallpapers. You can also upload your own photo to serve as the background for your favorite apps. The ability to listen to popular radio stations from around the world adds a nice finishing touch to this dynamic launcher.
6. Sideload Launcher
Price: Free
While some of the apps on our list also support sideloading, it can be good to have a launcher like Sideload Launcher – Android TV, which is compatible with APKs that aren’t available on the Google Play Store. This is achieved using SuperSU, which roots Android devices to download apps directly from the developer’s portal.
The launcher mainly integrates with the latest Android firmware, such as ADT-1 and Nexus Player. Therefore., it may not install on older Android TV operating systems. To successfully sideload the files, you will need a TV browser that can download the program. The app uses a minimalist interface, which means there aren’t any extra options to rearrange the apps.
If you’re a beginner to TV rooting, the Sideload Launcher app is user friendly, as it uses the same app icons within the SuperSU app as you’d find in a smartphone or tablet. This makes it easier to follow the same “rooting” instructions for your television device that you would do with your Android phone.
Tip: Amazon Fire Stick not working for you? Check out our list of fixes to get back to watching your favorite movies and TV shows.
7. FLauncher
Price: Free
FLauncher is an open-source launcher with menu placements on the right of the screen that closely resembles the appearance of stock Android TV OS. While the app doesn’t feature as many options as the other launchers in this list, FLauncher allows you to create your own custom categories and import wallpapers based on gradients and images.
Despite a focus on minimalism, FLauncher beats the other television launchers when it comes to overall stability. Its crash reporting and analytics features work seamlessly to ensure that you don’t experience any errors or slowdowns.
In fact, it’s so stable that it also works easily with Google TV, where it can replace its default launcher. As FLauncher is an open-source project, it further integrates with Unsplash to bring high-quality wall images to your Android TV display.
Revitalizing Your Android TV
All the Android TV launchers mentioned here are easy to install and available via the Google Play Store. If your TV doesn’t have the Play Store, you can sideload the apps to your TV. You may also need a File Manager app on your TV to access the APK files.
Image source: Unsplash. All photos by Sayak Boral.
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