Google TV has slowed down a lot since it replaced Android TV. Half the home screen is now recommendations you did not ask for, the “For You” tab loads before the apps do, and even a Chromecast with Google TV 4K can feel like it takes a full breath before responding. The XDA writer who booted straight into an alternative launcher and reported everything got faster is not alone; a handful of apps make Google TV feel like the operating system Android TV used to be. Here are seven worth trying.
What to look for in a Google TV replacement
Not every launcher is worth installing. The apps that are actually keep the TV working the way a TV should.
- Boots directly into the launcher, not through the vendor’s own home screen
- Groups apps the way you want, not by whatever “trending” surface a vendor wants to push
- Handles the D-pad correctly and does not swallow long-presses
- Survives Google TV updates that try to reset the default launcher
- Small enough to run on a 2 GB stick without swapping
- Works with the same remote you already have, including voice
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projectivy Launcher | Full home-screen replacement | Free tier | Custom wallpapers and video backgrounds |
| FLauncher | Minimalist app grid | Yes | Open source, no ads |
| ATV Launcher | Classic Android TV rows | Free tier | Familiar layout for Android TV veterans |
| TVQuickActions | Bringing back missing settings | Free tier | On-screen shortcuts for Wi-Fi and inputs |
| Wolf Launcher | Fast, ad-free launcher | Yes | Genuinely quick on older hardware |
| Aptoide TV | Sideloading and app updates | Yes | Full store designed for TV |
| Button Mapper | Remapping remote buttons | Free tier | Turn the assistant button into anything |
The apps
1. Projectivy Launcher — best full replacement
Projectivy Launcher replaces the entire Google TV home screen. Apps get their own rows, categories are yours to define, and the wallpaper can even be a looping video. It boots as quickly as any launcher on this list and, critically, tells Google TV not to interrupt.
Where it falls short: Some content-recommendation features from Google TV do not carry over. Voice search still works, but you leave Google’s curated ambient screen behind.
Download: Aptoide, Google Play — package com.spocky.projengmenu.
Bottom line: The most complete Google TV replacement. Try this first.
2. FLauncher — best minimalist option
FLauncher is an open-source, no-ads, no-tracking launcher that lays out apps in a clean grid and gets out of the way. It is the pick for anyone who wants Google TV to become an app tray and nothing else.
Where it falls short: No recommendation rows. If a household actually likes seeing what is new on their streaming services, this is too austere.
Download: F-Droid, Google Play — package me.efesser.flauncher.
Bottom line: The right pick for anyone tired of ads on their TV home screen.
3. ATV Launcher — best for classic Android TV feel
ATV Launcher brings back the row-based layout that Android TV used before Google TV took over. Rows for favorites, apps, and games are configurable, and the interface responds to the D-pad exactly the way older sets did.
Where it falls short: The free tier includes ads on some rows. Pro is an in-app purchase to remove them.
Download: Aptoide, Google Play — package ru.mrlargha.commontv.
Bottom line: The right pick if the last TV you liked was Android TV.
4. TVQuickActions — best for quick settings
TVQuickActions is not a launcher. It is an overlay that puts controls for Wi-Fi, HDMI inputs, sound settings, and system options behind a long-press on the home button. It solves a specific irritation with Google TV: how many taps a simple setting change now takes.
Where it falls short: Some features require Pro. Certain device settings need ADB granted a permission once at install.
Download: Aptoide, Google Play — package com.andrey7mel.tvquickactions.free.
Bottom line: Install even if the launcher swap is a “maybe later.” It is that useful.
5. Wolf Launcher — best for lower-end sticks
Wolf Launcher is one of the fastest launchers on Android TV. On older sticks with 2 GB of RAM it feels noticeably snappier than Google’s own, and it never shows a promo tile.
Where it falls short: The look is functional rather than pretty. Customization is more limited than Projectivy’s.
Download: Aptoide, Google Play — package com.wolfmobile.launcher.
Bottom line: The right pick for a hand-me-down streaming stick that has slowed to a crawl.
6. Aptoide TV — best sideloading companion
Aptoide TV is a TV-optimized app store. It handles updates for apps you sideloaded, offers a large catalog of TV-optimized apps that never made it to Google TV, and gives the launcher swap a working “install” surface. Search and D-pad navigation feel native.
Where it falls short: As with any sideloading store, you own vetting what you install. Stick to known-good publishers.
Download: aptoide.com/tv.
Bottom line: The right companion for anyone running a non-Google launcher. It fills the “app updates” gap.
7. Button Mapper — best for remote frustrations
Button Mapper takes any long-press or shortcut on the remote and remaps it. The dedicated assistant button that no household member has ever wanted becomes “open Projectivy” or “toggle Wi-Fi.” The change survives reboots.
Where it falls short: Some remote buttons on newer Google TVs are hardwired to system functions and cannot be reassigned. Root helps in a few of those cases.
Download: Aptoide, Google Play — package flar2.homebutton.
Bottom line: The right pick when the physical remote itself is the source of friction.
How to pick the right one
- If Google TV’s home screen is the whole problem: Projectivy Launcher
- If you want as little UI as possible: FLauncher
- If Android TV’s row layout is what you miss: ATV Launcher
- If specific settings are what you keep hunting for: TVQuickActions
- If the device is old and slow: Wolf Launcher
- If you sideload apps: Aptoide TV for updates
- If the remote itself is the problem: Button Mapper
FAQ
Does changing the launcher break Google Cast? No. Google Cast, YouTube casting, and Chromecast built-in all continue to work regardless of the active launcher. They are separate services.
Will Google TV reset my launcher after an update? Some updates try. Reopen the alternative launcher once and set it as default from its own settings; that usually sticks.
Do these launchers support voice search? Yes. Voice search is a system-level feature on Google TV and stays available even with a third-party launcher.
Can I keep the “For You” recommendations if I want them? Not in most of these launchers. Projectivy has a compatible “for you” row driven by installed apps, which is closer than nothing.
Is sideloading a launcher safe? Downloading from a reputable store (Google Play, Aptoide TV, F-Droid) is safe. Random APK files from unfamiliar sources are not.
Which launcher is fastest on a Chromecast with Google TV 4K? Wolf Launcher and Projectivy both boot in under a second on that hardware. Google’s own launcher regularly takes several seconds after a cold start.
