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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchYou can replace the home screen on Google TV with a free third-party launcher. The best-documented example is Projectivy Launcher, which installs from Google Play and can take over the Home button through a single setting. The setup takes a few minutes. The part that needs watching is the override itself: it has worked in the guides and reviews covered below, but a March 2026 report says an update stopped it working for some users. This article walks through the swap, what it changes, and what to check before you commit.
What a launcher replaces, and what it leaves alone
A launcher is the interface that appears when you press Home: the rows of apps, the recommendations, and the promotional tiles that Google’s stock screen displays. Replacing it changes what you see when you go Home. It does not change the streaming apps themselves, which still open and behave as before. FlatpanelsHD puts it this way in its August 8, 2025 setup guide: “You can replace the user interface – the launcher – on Android TV and Google TV boxes, and customize it to your liking.”
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Projectivy Launcher at a glance
Projectivy is the launcher used as the example throughout this article. This article does not assume it is the launcher any particular reader has chosen. Its Google Play listing opens with the line “Tired of cluttered TV screens and intrusive ads?”, which is the developer’s own marketing wording. The features that matter for a buying decision are these:
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- Free: the core launcher features, according to Projectivy’s official website.
- Premium: some customization, including custom wallpapers and deeper icon customization.
- Install route: the Google Play Store on the TV itself. No sideloading is described for the standard route.
How to set Projectivy as your Google TV home screen
The steps below follow the menu path described in the FlatpanelsHD guide. Menu labels and behavior can differ by device and software version, so if a label doesn’t match your screen, look for the same option under the app’s General settings.
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- 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
- On the TV, open the Google Play Store and install Projectivy Launcher.
- Open Projectivy Launcher once so it finishes its first-run setup.
- Go to Projectivy Settings → General → Override current launcher and turn the override on.
- If Android asks for Accessibility permission, decide whether to grant it. The Google Play listing describes the Accessibility Service as optional and tied to remote-control shortcuts. The FlatpanelsHD guide says the permission may be requested during setup. The sources do not establish whether declining it affects the override.
- Press the Home button on your remote. Projectivy should open in place of the stock launcher.
- Put the TV into standby, wake it, and press Home again. This is the check that matters most, because the override is what decides whether Home stays on Projectivy after a restart.
In FlatpanelsHD’s test period, the Home button and waking from standby both opened Projectivy. The same guide also notes that Google may push a device back to the stock launcher. That test was run on a Google TV Streamer in August 2025. It is not a guarantee for every device or firmware version.
What changes on screen, and what doesn’t
According to FlatpanelsHD, replacing the launcher removes the stock home screen’s promotions from the interface you see. That is a change to the home screen only. It is not a blocker for advertising inside streaming services. If an app shows ads in its own interface, the launcher swap will not touch them. Treat the removal of home-screen promotions as the documented result, and check the apps you use most for their own ad settings.
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
When the override stops working
Android Authority reported on March 16, 2026 that some Google TV users said an update prevented Projectivy from overriding the default home screen. The report describes a small number of user reports. It says the cause and how widespread the problem is are unclear. Projectivy still opened when launched manually, according to that report. A workaround suggested by one user was to reset Projectivy’s settings and re-enable the permissions. The report says that did not work for everyone.
If Home starts opening the stock launcher after an update, work through these checks in order:
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- 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
- Open Projectivy manually from the TV’s apps list. If it opens, the app is installed and working; only the override has failed.
- Return to Projectivy Settings → General → Override current launcher and confirm the option is still on.
- Reset Projectivy’s settings, then re-enable the override and any Accessibility permission it requests.
- Restart the TV and press Home again.
- If the stock launcher returns after all of this, keep Projectivy as an app you open manually, or switch to a different launcher and test it through the same restart-and-standby check.
Compatibility: check your exact device
Projectivy’s official website says the app works on Android TV devices, including smart TVs, projectors, set-top boxes, Chromecast with Google TV, and NVIDIA Shield. That is the vendor’s own claim. It does not name a tested model or firmware version. Before you rely on the setup, confirm that your exact model and software version are supported, and then run the restart-and-standby check above.
Privacy: read the two disclosures separately
Two different statements in Projectivy’s Google Play listing matter here, and they should not be merged. The first concerns the optional Accessibility Service: the listing says it is used for remote-control shortcuts and that no data is collected or shared through that service. The second is the Data Safety panel, which lists the types of data the developer says it may collect or share. The panel also states that disclosures can vary by use, region, and age. Read the panel on the listing before you install.
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- 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.
Alternatives and how to compare them
Two other launchers are described by their own project pages. Neither page is an independent evaluation, and the sources do not include a controlled head-to-head test.
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| Launcher | Install route (as the project describes it) | Pricing (as stated) | Features the project highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projectivy Launcher | Google Play Store on the TV | Core features free; custom wallpapers and deeper icon customization require Premium | Override of the stock launcher through General settings |
| LTvLauncher | Not stated in the project’s GitHub description | Described as open source; pricing not stated | Android TV, Google TV, and Fire TV support; D-pad navigation; customizable categories |
| PLUI | Google Play route and a sideload route, per the product’s FAQ | Not stated in the FAQ | Android TV, Google TV, and Fire TV support |
If you compare launchers yourself, use the same checks for each one: whether your exact device is supported, whether Home opens the launcher after a restart and an update, what is free and what is paid, how it works with a remote and D-pad, how it organizes apps and content rows, whether installation requires sideloading or extra permissions, and how often the developer updates the app.
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- 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
Is the swap worth it?
The replacement is worth trying if you want the home screen itself to be cleaner and more customizable, and if you are comfortable checking the override after updates. Projectivy’s core features are free, the setting is one menu deep, and the documented result is a home screen without the stock promotions. The trade-off is that the override is the fragile part. Before you rely on it, test Home after a full restart and a standby cycle, and keep the manual-launch path in mind as a fallback.
Once you have confirmed the override works on your device, the setup is a one-time job. Check it again after major software updates.
Use the sources above as your reference points. The official Projectivy website and Google Play listing cover the features and privacy disclosures. The FlatpanelsHD guide, published August 8, 2025, covers the setup path. The Android Authority reports from July 7, 2025 and March 16, 2026 cover the hands-on review and the update problem.
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