I Installed This Alternative Launcher to Get Rid of Ads on Google TV
You may already know that you can install an alternative launcher on your Android phone that will completely change the way the software looks and works, and the same trick applies to devices running Google TV and Android TV. Changing your launcher means you don’t have to stick with the default look, including all the ads and promotional content Google crams into it.
Whether it’s on your phone or TV, a launcher is essentially a new skin for your software. It doesn’t fundamentally change how the operating system works, and you can easily uninstall it again and return to the default settings whenever you want. An alternative launcher replaces the default system settings when you press the Home button, so the original graphical interface remains hidden.
You have a few options when it comes to launchers for Google TV and Android TV, and you can take a look at what’s available in the Play Store to find one that suits your preferences, but lately I’ve been using one that deserves my strong recommendation. It’s one of the best and most popular alternative launchers: Projectivy Launcher . You can use it for free in a limited capacity, or pay a one-time fee of $7.50 to access the full feature set, which includes additional customization for wallpapers and icons.
How to install an alternative launcher on Google TV or Android TV and make it the default launcher
To get started, look for the Google Play Store icon or the Apps tab on your Google TV or Android TV or streaming device. From there, a quick search should turn up Projectivity Launcher. (You can also push it directly to your devices from the Projectivy Launcher page on the web.) Once you’ve gone through the download and installation process, you’ll see a few welcome screens explaining how the app works.
Be sure to give the app all the permissions it asks for, because without them it won’t work. Also enable Projectivy Launcher’s access to the device’s accessibility, as this will allow you to do tricks like remapping the remote control buttons. To do this, select the gear icon (top right), then select Accessibility and Projectivy Launcher .
Set the new launcher as the default launcher
When you first install the launcher, pressing the back or home button on your remote will take you to the default Android TV or Google TV menu, which isn’t ideal. To take care of this, in Projectivy Launcher, select the gear icon (top right), then Projectivy Launcher settings , and General : here you’ll find the options to Change default launcher and Override current launcher , which will hand control of your device to Projectivy Launcher and hide the Google interface entirely.
Why I like Productivity Launcher
Projectivy Launcher uses a simplified, simple interface, and if you scroll down the home screen, you’ll see your essential apps listed at the top, along with some recommendations for what to watch next based on your viewing history, and, importantly, no ads for any streaming services at the top. It’s much cleaner and makes it easier to get to the apps you use most often.
Adjust settings to control what you see and how it looks.
Select the gear icon in the top-right corner of the screen to access a bunch of different settings you can play with. There are options to change the types of apps you see on the home screen, choose which streaming services are allowed to show recommendations, and set up parental controls. You can also customize how events like restarts are handled.
Select Edit categories from the Settings list and you’ll be able to see all the different categories the launcher can display, including Now Playing , Featured , Videos , and Music . For each category, you can choose whether it’s visible, as well as change its size, name, and how it’s sorted (by most-used apps, for example). You can also create entirely new categories and populate them however you like.
Select Edit Channels from the settings list, and you can decide which of your streaming services will promote their wares on your home screen. Any channels you choose to show will display a carousel of recommended content, saving you from having to dive into individual apps to find something to watch.
If you select Projectivy Launcher and Appearance settings from the main settings list, you can customize the interface’s appearance in a variety of ways. You can change the home screen wallpaper, the accent colors used in the interface, and even the size of the content thumbnails and app shortcuts on your display.
The level of control and customisation you get is impressive, and there are a ton of different settings to explore – it can really transform your Android TV or Google TV experience.
How to return to the standard launcher
If you ever want to go back to the original Projectivy Launcher interface, simply disable the launcher settings you changed above. To get rid of Projectivy Launcher completely and go back to the original default launcher, long-press its shortcut icon in the interface, then select View details > Uninstall > OK .