Sideload Launcher - Android TV

Chainfire

About this app

This is only for the new Android TV devices, like the ADT-1 and the Nexus Player, it is completely useless on other devices

Android TV requires existing apps to be updated and declare themselves compatible before they're installable from the Play store.

While certainly not as streamlined or seamless as the average user would wish for their TV, many apps can still function on some level on these devices if you sideload them, but they don't show up in the Leanback Launcher (the Android TV homescreen).

So for that there is this app, the Sideload Launcher. A simple app that shows you the normal app launcher icons that a phone or tablet would show you, but which are hidden on Android TV, allowing you to launch any sideloaded app!

Ratings and reviews

Love it!!! I switched from Roku to Android TV because of how I can sideload apps to it. It does EXACTLY what the description says and nothing more. I've got a few APKs I've sideloaded that aren't "compatible" with Android TV and they won't show up on the main screen but when I want my video game music player to run, it launches it, no problem. Big 73s to Chainfire de W9JYD!

It does exactly what it says. Quickly opens up a list of apps which includes the sideloaded ones. The need for an app like this shows how poorly managed the Android TV system. So many available Android apps are out there, yet we have to sideload them on the Android TV platform. Get your s*** together Google.

Ok so its a great addon for my tv box, but it desperately needs the uninstall feature, you should be able to long press to show additional options like move, uninstall etc... Also, can you please update the icons so that they're rectangular rather than square so that it looks like a part of android tv? Also apps organised into categories would be useful

What's new

Fixed some improperly localized apps not showing up