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Projectivy Launcher is the strongest first choice if you want a customizable, ad-free alternative home screen for Google TV. The developer lists Chromecast with Google TV among supported devices and says the app guides you through default-launcher setup. If you mainly want a simple app grid, consider FLauncher or TV Launcher; neither has independent, comparable speed or memory tests proving it is lighter than Projectivy.
One important distinction: installing a launcher does not guarantee that pressing the remote’s Home button will open it. Google TV may return to its stock home screen, and the available workarounds vary by device.
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Which lightweight launcher should you choose?
| Launcher | Best fit | What it offers | Important caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projectivy Launcher | People who want a polished, customizable home screen | The developer describes an ad-free interface with layouts, wallpapers, icon packs and color schemes. Its site lists Android TV devices including Chromecast with Google TV and describes guided default-launcher setup. | Check which features currently require Premium and confirm compatibility with your exact device and firmware. There are no comparable independent resource-use tests in the reviewed sources. |
| FLauncher (Zomp fork) | People who prefer an open-source, category-based launcher | The repository documents app categories and ordering, wallpaper support, pointer and mouse support, and removal of Firebase components. | The project describes itself as early-stage and says device testing has been limited to Chromecast with Google TV. Disabling the stock launcher can also affect the YouTube remote button on that device. |
| TV Launcher (wiiguy repository) | People who want a very simple app grid and accept a smaller project | The repository describes a minimal, customizable grid and publishes the developer’s own memory estimates for different configurations. | The estimates are undated, depend on device and configuration, and are not a head-to-head comparison. |
| LTvLauncher | People who need several documented ways to set up Home-button behavior | The repository describes architecture-specific APKs, accessibility-based Home-button handling, key remapping and ADB setup. | Google TV may override the third-party HOME selection. Its ADB instructions disable system packages, so follow the project’s cautions and keep the restoration commands available. |
For most people, start with Projectivy because its developer documents compatibility across Android TV devices and provides setup guidance. Choose FLauncher for a more basic, open-source category-based interface, or TV Launcher if a minimal grid is the priority. LTvLauncher is worth considering when its multiple Home-button setup options match your needs, but its ADB path is not routine setup.
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A launcher replaces or supplements the screen where you choose apps; it is not the streaming operating system itself. A simpler-looking interface may suit a device with limited resources, but the available figures do not support a universal ranking of these launchers by speed or memory use.
#1 Best Overall
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
- TV Launcher’s published figure is project-reported: its repository estimates approximately 30–40 MB PSS on the developer’s typical TV configuration. The project says the result varies with pinned apps, background checks and optional features. The page does not date the estimate, so it is not an independent benchmark or a guarantee for another device. See the TV Launcher repository.
- There is no comparable test across the options: the reviewed sources provide no independent, named test measuring all four launchers under the same conditions. A memory number published by one project cannot establish that it is faster or lighter than the others.
Projectivy: the best-supported first choice
Projectivy is the clearest recommendation if you want both an alternative home screen and substantial customization. Its developer describes an ad-free interface with selectable layouts, wallpapers, icon packs and color schemes. The official site says it supports Android TV devices including smart TVs, projectors, set-top boxes such as NVIDIA Shield and Chromecast with Google TV, and Android TV boxes. These are the developer’s compatibility claims, so check your model and firmware rather than assuming every device behaves identically.
The developer directs users to install Projectivy from Google Play on the TV and says the app guides them through selecting it as the default launcher. That guidance is useful, but default selection and remote-button behavior are separate issues: Google TV can still return to its stock launcher when Home is pressed. Current Premium feature boundaries may change; review the app listing and setup screens before deciding whether its free features are sufficient. See the official Projectivy site and Google Play listing.
Rank #2
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
FLauncher: a simpler open-source option
The reviewed Zomp fork of FLauncher focuses on app categories and arrangement, with wallpaper support and pointer or mouse support. Its repository also says Firebase components were removed. Those are project-level descriptions, not an independent privacy audit.
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The same repository warns that development is early and device testing has been limited to Chromecast with Google TV. It documents Home-button remapping through Button Mapper as its simplest setup route, and disabling the default launcher through ADB as an alternative tested only on Chromecast with Google TV. The project warns that disabling the default launcher may stop the YouTube remote button from working on that device; remapping the button is its suggested workaround. Treat those directions as device-specific, not a universal Google TV procedure. See the FLauncher fork repository.
Rank #3
- 4K Ultra HD Resolution: Enjoy your TV in stunning resolution Ultra HD ers four times the resolution of Full HD for greater clarity and detail
- Android TV: With the Android TV operating system you will have access to the best content, download the infinity of applications available through the Google Play Store!
- Voice remote control: Just press the Google Assistant button and ask it to find, play and control content
- Chromecast Built-in: Easily cast movies, shows, and photos from your Android or iOS device to your Android TV
- Easy Setup: Access your Google account and configure the device, language and Wi-Fi network
TV Launcher and LTvLauncher: simpler grids and setup alternatives
TV Launcher
The wiiguy project describes TV Launcher as a minimal, customizable app grid. Its reported memory estimate may interest people looking for a pared-down interface, but the estimate is the developer’s own, undated measurement and changes with configuration. It cannot tell you how TV Launcher compares with Projectivy or FLauncher on your hardware. See the TV Launcher repository.
LTvLauncher
LTvLauncher documents several ways to handle Home-button behavior: Android TV settings, an accessibility service called Home Button Fix, key remapping, and ADB. Its repository explains that Google TV can register the stock launcher’s HOME intent at priority 2 and return to Google TV rather than opening the chosen third-party launcher. It also warns that disabling system packages carries risks. Because the behavior and recovery path can depend on the device, use its documentation for the specific route you are considering, including the commands to re-enable the stock launcher and setup fallback. See the LTvLauncher repository.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- No More App-Switching. Forget learning to navigate a new screen with every app. TiVo Stream 4K enables one centralized place for searching, browsing, and creating watch lists across all your apps..DC Input Range 5V/1.0A. Power Consumption : Maximum 5 W
- Recommendations Across All of Your Apps: Get rid of the walls between what you watch. TiVo recommends your next favorite shows and movies based on what you love, not where they live.
- Say it and watch it. The power of voice control makes it easy to find shows. Integrated Google Assistant allows you to launch apps, dim the lights and more.
- One place for all your favorite streaming apps. TiVo Stream 4K includes Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock plus many more, so you can get to your shows fast.
- TiVo Stream 4K is one of Time Magazine’s “2020 Best Inventions, Special Mention” and PCMag hails it as “an excellent media streamer for TV lovers.” Operating Temperature 0˚C - 40˚C
Rank #4
- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
How to replace the Google TV home screen
- Install your preferred launcher. For Projectivy, the developer directs users to install it from Google Play on the TV. Use the relevant project instructions for other launchers.
- Complete the launcher’s default setup. Projectivy says its app guides users through choosing it as the default launcher. The exact prompts may depend on the device.
- Test the Home button. Return to the home screen, then press Home on the remote. If Google TV opens instead, the third-party launcher may be installed and selectable without controlling the Home key.
- Try a remapping or accessibility approach if documented for your device. FLauncher’s fork points to Button Mapper; LTvLauncher documents accessibility and key-remapping options. Check the project instructions and verify the result on your remote.
- Reserve ADB package disabling for an advanced, device-specific case. Disabling a stock launcher can affect other system behavior, including the YouTube remote button in the FLauncher fork’s Chromecast with Google TV notes. Before using ADB, read the project’s warnings and recovery commands for your exact device.
What to check before you switch
- Device and firmware: confirm support for the exact TV or streaming device; a project’s general Android TV compatibility statement is not a guarantee for every model.
- Home-key behavior: install and test before disabling any system component. Decide whether a remapper or accessibility service is acceptable if the stock launcher keeps opening.
- Interface needs: choose Projectivy for customization, FLauncher for categories and a simpler open-source approach, or a minimal-grid project if that is all you need.
- Project maturity: FLauncher’s reviewed fork explicitly warns that it is early-stage with limited device testing. Read current project notes before relying on it.
- Resource claims: treat developer-published memory figures as estimates for their own configuration, not as proof of which launcher is lightest.
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