The stock Nvidia Shield or Android TV home screen is functional but cluttered with recommendations and app promos you probably don’t want. A custom launcher replaces that home screen with a cleaner, faster interface you control – showing just the apps and shortcuts you actually use. Here are the best options and how to install them.

Projectivy Launcher (Our Top Pick)

Projectivy Launcher is currently the most widely used third-party launcher for Android TV devices – it’s free, actively maintained, and highly customizable (app grid layout, hidden apps, custom backgrounds, and quick-launch shortcuts). It’s available directly on the Google Play Store, which makes installation simple.

  1. Open the Google Play Store on your device.
  2. Search for “Projectivy Launcher” and select it from the results.
  3. Select Install, then open the app once installed to walk through its setup wizard.

Wolf Launcher

Wolf Launcher is a lighter-weight, sideloaded alternative focused on speed and a simple grid layout – a solid pick on older or lower-powered devices where Projectivy’s extra features can feel sluggish. We cover it in full detail, including Fire TV Cube-specific steps, in our dedicated Wolf Launcher install guide.

ATV Launcher

ATV Launcher takes a more traditional Android-phone-style app drawer approach rather than the row-based layout most TV launchers use. If you find yourself wishing your TV home screen worked more like a phone’s app grid, it’s worth trying – also available via sideload through Downloader. We walk through the full install and setup process in our dedicated ATV Launcher guide.

Setting a Launcher as Your Default Home Screen

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps on your device.
  2. Find Home screen (sometimes listed under “Default apps”).
  3. Select the launcher you installed as the default.
  4. Press the Home button on your remote – you should now see the new launcher.

You can always switch back by repeating these steps and selecting your device’s original launcher. None of this is permanent or risky – it’s a standard app install like any other, and a custom launcher is one of the simplest upgrades you can make to a Shield or Android TV box.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to root my Nvidia Shield to install a custom launcher?

No. Projectivy Launcher, Wolf Launcher, and ATV Launcher all install as normal apps, either from the Play Store or by sideloading with Downloader. None of them require root access.

Will installing a custom launcher void my warranty?

No. Installing a launcher app is no different from installing any other app from the Play Store or by sideloading — it doesn’t modify your device’s firmware, and it’s fully reversible at any time.

Can I use these launchers on Fire TV too, or only Nvidia Shield?

Wolf Launcher and ATV Launcher both run on Fire TV devices as well — see our dedicated Wolf Launcher and ATV Launcher guides for device-specific steps. Projectivy Launcher targets Android TV and Google TV devices like the Shield specifically.

Which launcher should I pick: Projectivy, Wolf, or ATV?

Projectivy is the best all-around pick for most people — free, actively maintained, and highly customizable. Choose Wolf Launcher if you want something lighter on an older or lower-powered box, and ATV Launcher if you’d rather have a phone-style app drawer than a row-based layout.

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