The home screen of your Android TV device contains your apps, recommended videos, and menus. This is also known as a launcher. The latest redesign of the native Android TV launcher (coming in 2022) was widely criticized by the community.
However, it is possible to replace Android TV Launcher on your device. It's easy to download an alternative with different menus, fonts, layouts and more. And with that in mind, here are the best Android TV launcher apps to consider.
Ugoos TV
The most popular Android TV launcher is probably Ugoos TV.
The user interface marks a significant leap from the Android TV launcher you're used to. On the left side of the screen, you'll see a scroll wheel that lets you browse through broad categories (like All Apps, Internet, Games, Settings, etc.).
There are nine categories in total. Any apps that fall into the highlighted category will appear on the right side of the screen for you to select and open.
Ugoos TV has nine different themes and supports custom backgrounds, custom icons, and adaptive remote controls.
Download: Ugoos TV (free)
Advantages and disadvantages of HD VideoBox
The HD VideoBox application has the following advantages:
- a huge base of video content downloaded from various sources;
- the ability to select translation, quality, season and other video recording parameters;
- file download option;
- customizing the interface, including changing the design;
- convenient division of content into categories, search function;
- parental control support.
However, despite many advantages, the service also has disadvantages - the program is not on GooglePlay, so installation may seem difficult to inexperienced users. Additionally, you must use a third-party player to play the video. But these are minor technical inconveniences that can be easily overcome using the methods described above.
TVHome Launcher
If you have a smart TV from Samsung or LG that runs TizenOS or webOS, the TvHome Launcher layout will be instantly familiar. In fact, if you want to recreate the Smart TV experience, TvHome is one of the best Android TV launchers you'll find.
All your apps appear at the bottom of the screen in a minimalist one line. You can scroll through the list using the left and right buttons on your Android TV remote control. The background image is customizable.
TvHome Launcher also features minimal consumption of your system resources. If you have a cheaper, low-power Android TV box, this launcher is definitely worth a try.
Download: TvHome Launcher (Free)
Haystack TV: Daily News.
As they say, staying up to date with all the news is the mantra of the new age world. If you're of the same mind, trust Haystack TV to take care of all your news feeds.
Winner of the 2017 Best TV Experience, this app delivers news from the best sources, personalized to suit your tastes. Moreover, the interface is simple and easy to use, and all the news is neatly grouped on the left.
Simple TV Launcher
Simple TV is another minimalist Android TV app.
There are six places for apps on the home screen. You can select the applications that appear in the slots. If you need access to your full list of applications, click on the appropriate icon in the upper left corner.
In the bottom right corner, you'll find an icon that takes you straight to your Android TV's settings menu.
Simple TV Launcher is open source - you can find the source code on GitHub. If you have enough time and knowledge, you can use the launcher as the basis for your own creation.
Download: Simple TV Launcher (Free)
Changing the launcher on your smartphone
On Samsung
Open the Settings item, which is called Applications.
Now press the button with three dots in the upper right corner to call up additional options.
Select Applications by default.
This settings section contains applications for opening Internet pages, messaging and working as the main screen of a smartphone. In the factory settings of the phone there is a launcher from Google or a proprietary one: Samsung Expirience for Samsung, MIUI desktop for Xiaomi smartphones.
Select the appropriate Desktop and check the box next to it.
After exiting the settings, the main screen will already work under the control of the new program.
On Xiaomi
On Xiaomi phones, in the Applications section, select All applications.
Then the default selection screen is displayed similar to the one described above.
In a similar way, you can select the default browser and messenger that will be used for messaging. You can also change the standard dialer.
Download: HALauncher (free)
HALauncher
In the introduction, we mentioned that the current version of the native Android TV Launcher is annoying for many users. It's not as easy to use or aesthetically pleasing as the previous iteration.
Alas, if you want to fall back to the old visuals, you're in luck. The HALauncher app closely imitates the previous design; you'll find your apps in one row and your games in another.
HALauncher also has one huge advantage over the official launcher: it supports downloaded apps on its home screen. This means that you won't need to use a workaround to access downloaded apps on your Android TV box.
Lastly, like many other launchers on this list, HALauncher allows you to add your own background image.
Download: HALauncher (Free)
Possible problems and ways to solve them
No one is immune from incorrect operation of video services, including HD VideoBox. Most often, users mention three problems, which in most cases do not depend on the application itself.
- If the application reports failure when trying to find a video, there may be several reasons. So, a film or series may not be released yet, or it may not be available on the resources from which the links to the files are taken. Another possible reason is that the content is not available in a certain country or is blocked at the request of copyright holders.
- If the video slows down, freezes, or other problems arise when viewing, there may be several solutions. You can check all the resources and choose the one from which the video plays best. Also, the reason may be the load on the services from which viewing is carried out, this is especially true in the evening or on holidays and weekends. Another likely factor is the player used. You need to install another one of the recommended ones and try to play the video on it.
- If the video plays but there is no sound, the reason may be the DTS/AC3 codec with which the audio track is encoded. Most likely, the player does not support it. To solve the problem, you should download and install another player or load codecs into the existing one. If there is no sound in all videos, even where there was sound before, you need to reboot your SMART device.
So, HD VideoBox is a powerful video service for watching movies and TV series, designed for devices on the Android platform. It is available for download completely free of charge, translated into Russian, and also has a convenient and simple interface, which makes the software easy to use for inexperienced users. For TVs based on other operating systems that the application in question does not support, you can open it through a browser or a companion site and watch movies that way.
For most modern TVs, it is quite natural to have Smart TV technology, but most owners use its useful functions to a minimum extent. You can unleash the capabilities of a modern smart TV and turn it into a real media center using additional popular applications. Our rating of current year programs with all the necessary information will help you navigate the diversity.
UNICA TV Launcher
UNICA TV Launcher presents its own design and visuals, but that is not the main reason why you should install it.
This launcher is especially worth trying if you usually use a D-pad remote to control your Android TV box. UNICA TV has D-pad optimized navigation.
You'll see your Android TV apps appear in four columns. For easier navigation, you can add apps to custom categories. Categories are accessible via shortcuts at the bottom of the screen.
There's also a section for your most used apps for quick access to your favorite content, as well as custom wallpapers.
UNICA TV Launcher is free for 14 days. After that, however, you'll need to purchase a full license for a few dollars if you want to customize the categories and remove the annoying screen.
Download: UNICA TV Launcher (Free)
Difference between launcher and theme
The theme involves changing only the screen color and desktop wallpaper, without affecting the controls. Themes are rarely made publicly available, but usually two themes (light and dark) are present in the build of any operating system.
The launcher, in turn, changes the design theme, controls, and set of icons, and can even change the way the smartphone itself is launched. Thus, the user will be able to customize the graphical shell of the system “to suit himself,” even to the point of changing it to one more familiar from previous phone models. Moreover, many launchers support cloud storage of settings, so restoring the usual desktop settings is even easier.
Top TV Launcher 2
If you want full control over the look of your home screen, we think Top TV Launcher 2 is the best Android TV launcher for your needs.
Has a built-in layout editor; You can use it to place apps anywhere on the screen, as well as add widgets and tiles. You can even create your own tiles using the built-in tile editor or adding an ICO file or image.
There's also the ability to add multiple apps to a single tile for easy folder management, support for PIN-protected apps, and custom wallpaper settings.
Top TV Launcher 2 without ads.
Download: Top TV Launcher 2 (Free)
Square Home 3 Launcher
QR Code
Square Home
Developer: ChYK the dev
Price: Free
- Optimized for control from TV box remotes (gyros, IR remotes)
- Works on smartphones, tablets, android TV set-top boxes
- Quick Setup Wizard
- Select background effect (blur, transparent, refraction)
- Customizable icon size and number of rows
- Notifications on app tiles
- Move, customize, or delete desktop tiles
- Widgets and slideshows of your photos on the home screen
- Editing the page title
- Page manager for adding and editing individual windows with different sets of applications
- Assigning actions for pressing and holding an icon
- Change styles, icons, pictures and names of tiles
- Adding a shutdown menu to a separate tile
- Configuring application launch settings (clearing notifications, auto-rotate screen, media volume, etc.)
- 3D icons in the form of a cube with the assignment of individual applications to each side
For TV boxes that do not have a top “curtain”, the assignment function for the function tile is useful - Expand the notification panel. After that, when you click on this tile, a notification window appears.
Thanks to many settings for almost all elements, you can design a work screen to suit every taste.
Download Square Home 3 Launcher
Android TV Launcher
We end with the official Android TV Launcher from Google. Depending on the Android TV box you own, there is a possibility that the official Google launcher has not yet been downloaded.
There have been numerous complaints about the launcher in terms of design and usability, but we know from experience that some OEM launchers are infinitely worse.
And besides, there's always something to be said about running Android in any form. This means you can be confident that it will perform as expected and is unlikely to crash.
Android TV Launcher is free to download.
Download: Android TV Launcher (Free)
Plex
Plex can rightfully be called a smaller version of Kodi. Similarly, Plex turns your computer and smartphone into a set-top box or server. So you can stream your songs and videos directly to your TV via WIFi.
The advantage it has over younity is that it allows you to stream from your computer and smartphone. All you need to do is go to settings and select the correct server.
Note : Plex also needs LocalCast to help with casting.
How to Download Apps on Android TV
Some Android TV boxes don't come with Google Play installed. If so, you may struggle to install the launchers we have discussed on your device. Instead, you will need to download them.
Generally, there are three ways to download apps on Android TV:
- Use the web version of the Google Play Store and select your device from the drop-down list.
- Download the APK using your browser on Android TV.
- Transfer the APK to your device using a USB drive.
If you want to know more, check out how to access downloaded apps on Android TV. And remember, there are several important Android TV apps that you need to download. So learning to do this is a valuable lesson.
Some apps don't require side loading. You can install Google Chrome on Android TV. with minimal effort.
Settings
So, you finally hold your chosen device in your hands. How can you make it work and at the same time make you happy?
Physical connection
Location
Like any device with passive cooling, it is better for a TV set-top box not to be squeezed on all sides and to have a flow of cold air. On the other hand, it almost never gets very hot, so there shouldn’t be any particular problems with its placement. Think about how you will turn it on and off (there must be access to the button on the case), in addition, sometimes you may need to remove the power supply plug.
Net
As I mentioned earlier, one of the key disadvantages of all Chinese set-top boxes that I have encountered is the unstable operation of the Wi-Fi module.
This is often due to poor antenna design, which is especially true for devices where it is hidden inside the case. In such cases, craftsmen solve the problem with various hacks. Unfortunately, difficulties often arise with the operation of the module itself, and this cannot be corrected. This will not be a big problem for those who do not use the network capabilities of the set-top box. But as soon as you want stable operation of streaming services or start actively using torrents, a high-quality network becomes necessary. On the other hand, all the set-top boxes with the ability to connect via Ethernet that have come into my hands are pleasing with the stable operation of the network. From here I conclude that it is most convenient to use a set-top box complete with a Wi-Fi router or access point. Since, most likely, you will want to connect other devices to this router (I have it loaded with game consoles and a printer), this decision will not be unjustified, and the price of a cheap access point will slightly burden the overall budget.
Advice:
configure a static address for your set-top box, this will make further work with it easier.
Video
Definitely HDMI. I recommend high-quality cables to avoid the need to constantly replace them (cheap ones often break), with support for at least the HDMI 1.4 standard. The shorter the wire, the better, but avoid situations where it is stretched too tight.
Sound
In the best case, you will transmit the sound to your TV or receiver via the same HDMI cable. Some set-top boxes have an optical S/PDIF output; in principle, you can use that too. The worst option in terms of sound quality is the analog output, since you won't hear anything good from this option.
Data store
I recommend using an external hard drive.
Given that you can now easily buy two and three terabyte disks, you can have quick access to your entire media collection. The drive should be formatted to exFat to avoid problems with large files, such as BD Remuxes, which FAT32 cannot support. Many devices will have problems with NTFS, so it is best to avoid this format. Network storage works quite adequately, but from the point of view of the convenience of working with them on Android, they are significantly inferior to a connected external drive.
At the moment, I have not seen Android TV boxes with USB 3.0 support, but, on the other hand, USB 2.0 will cope quite adequately.
Input and control devices
For comfortable work you will need a keyboard.
The Android on-screen keyboard, of course, can adequately cope with most tasks, but it covers half the screen, which is not always convenient. You will use the keyboard quite often - you need it to work with the browser, search for media content on Youtube, etc. and so on. In addition, you will definitely need a mouse (at least two-key) or a touchpad. Infrared control panels have a “mouse” mode, but the features of this communication method make it extremely inconvenient to use. As soon as you have connected the mouse to the console, you can safely lose the remote control - you are unlikely to need it again.
Almost an advertisement
I have all the input functions on the Mystery MSR-113 device, which is a combination of a universal remote control, keyboard and air mouse. With the help of such a combine, it is easy to control all the equipment of the media center and not have to look for ten different remote controls in different places.
Software setup
Shell (launcher)
Usually the Chinese come with their own specific shell. Its advantage is that it is easy to control with an infrared remote control, since it is built on “squares” and, accordingly, navigation can be carried out using “arrows” and the “ok” button. For MBox-like consoles, the launcher looks something like this:
In all other shells, you will need a mouse to navigate. In principle, Nova Launcher is well suited for the tasks of this device, but I think everyone has their own preferences on this topic.
XBMC
Many articles have been written on the topic of XBMC settings, so I hope you can figure it out yourself.
I will only note the features of working with Android. Don't update XBMC yourself , don't install Kodi. Most likely after this it will stop working correctly. Most likely, your device comes with a special assembly optimized to run on this hardware. Otherwise there shouldn't be any problems. If you did update your XBMC version and now want to roll back, look for special. assembly for your device (for the amlogic s802 platform these are assemblies from Oman) or flash the entire console back.
Sound settings
If an a/v receiver is connected and you want to play not just stereo, but 2.1 or 5.1 sound, you need to specify this in the settings. Go to the XBMC System->Audio Output
.
Set Number of Channels
to the value you need, set
Keep Audio Device Alive
to
Always
.
If your receiver is capable of DTS or AC3, in the same menu, enable the Enable passthrough
and the
Dolby Digital (AC3) capable receiver
and/or
DTS capable receiver
, depending on the technology you use.
Add-ons and themes
All themes and plugins for XBMC worked correctly for me, but some, especially heavy themes, such as Confluence Customizable Mod, were a little slow. If you're not happy with the standard theme, try reFocus.
Context menu
Unlike Windows computers, the right mouse button in XBMC acts as a "back" command rather than opening a context menu. The context menu, by default, works by pressing the “c” key on the keyboard. You can change the key mapping using keymap files in the XBMC folder or using the special Keymap Editor add-on.
Accessing an external drive
When adding folders on your hard drive to the library, the easiest way to get to them is through the not very obvious path root filesystem->storage->external storage->sda1
Other useful programs
What software may be useful to you.
- Torrentex is the best torrent0 client for Android, simple, convenient, fast, and understands “magnetic” links.
- SoundAbout is apparently the only program that allows you to configure where the sound goes, similar to Manage Audit Devices
in Windows. It will be very useful for those who connect bluetooth headsets. Unfortunately, normal functionality after the trial period is only available for money (185 rubles at the moment) - SSH Server - server with support for SSH, FTP/SFTP, etc. A very convenient tool for remote access and file sharing over the network.
- ASTRO File Manager - or a million other good file managers.
- Titanium Backup - as soon as you configure your console, I recommend immediately saving all the settings somewhere where they can be easily retrieved later.
- TeamViewer Quick Support is a program for remote access to your set-top box. Unfortunately, it cannot work autonomously, i.e. Each time you will need to confirm permission for remote access on the set-top box.
Android Settings
In principle, everything will work without additional settings. Most likely, the Ethernet connection will be considered by your programs for the connection, taking into account the traffic, so do not forget to uncheck “download only over Wi-Fi” and similar checkboxes in all settings.
Firmware update
Finally, about updating the firmware.
Don't update unless necessary. If you really want to update, save all the settings. Think about whether you really need to update. Something will definitely go wrong, and you will have to “dance with a tambourine” for a long time. Some devices go under the slogan of having an “OTA” update system. This Chinese OTA does not work and it is better not to use it. You must download the firmware yourself, through the website freaktab.com dedicated to Chinese devices.
Renewal principle
- Download the firmware
- Extract the contents to the root of the microSD card
- Carefully insert the card into the appropriate slot of the set-top box. It does not fit tightly to the body, so be careful not to insert the card past it. If you hit it correctly, there will be a characteristic click of the spring.
- Unplug the power cord. Insert the power cord.
Next you need to put the set-top box into update mode. These actions are specific to different models; I give the example of MBox MXIII:
- Use a toothpick to press the button INSIDE the audio jack and hold it.
- Press the power button of the set-top box
- Release the button inside the audio jack
The update process has begun. After the update, you will have to reinstall everything again; Titanium Backup should really help here.
