NS Launcher

A Nintendo Switch-style home screen launcher for Android TV - clean, fast, and built for the couch.

Closed source. Pre-built APKs are available in Releases. Source is not distributed.

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What it looks like

NS Launcher replaces your Android TV home screen with a UI inspired by the Nintendo Switch system menu:

• A horizontal app row front and center
• A minimal status bar (clock, Wi-Fi, mic)
• A bottom dock for quick access to Settings, Play Store, Gallery, Controllers, and About
• Sound feedback on navigation, launch, and menus - just like the real thing

Screenshots:

Untitled.design.mp4

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Features

• Home screen app row - your favourite apps in one swipe
• All Software grid - browse every installed app in a full-screen grid
• Rearrange apps - hold select on any app to enter move mode, navigate left/right to reorder, hold again to confirm
• Add / Remove from home screen - long-press any app in All Software to pin or unpin it from the home row
• UI navigation sounds - authentic Steam Deck-style audio feedback
• Live clock - 12-hour format in the status bar
• Quick-access dock - Controllers (Bluetooth), Play Store, Gallery, Settings, About
• No ads, no accounts, no telemetry

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Requirements

• Android TV device (Android 8.0+)

Tested on Xiaomi MiBox 3 & 5. Should work on any Android TV / Google TV device.

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Installation

Option A - Sideload via file manager (easiest)

1. Download the latest app-release.apk from Releases
2. Transfer it to your TV (USB drive, network share, or send to your TV via an app like Downloader)
3. Open a file manager on the TV and tap the APK to install
4. Allow installation from unknown sources if prompted

Option B - Install via ADB

adb connect <your-tv-ip>:5555
adb install app-release.apk

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Setting NS Launcher as your default home screen

Method 1 - Remap the Home button (recommended, reversible)

Use Button Mapper to remap your remote's Home button to launch NS Launcher. This leaves your device's original launcher intact and is fully reversible.

Method 2 - Disable the stock launcher (permanent until re-enabled)

⚠️ Do this at your own risk. These commands have been tested on Chromecast with Google TV. Steps may differ on other devices.

Disable stock launcher:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.tv.launcherx
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.tungsten.setupwraith

Press Home - the system will ask you to choose a default launcher. Select NS Launcher.

Re-enable stock launcher:

adb shell pm enable com.google.android.apps.tv.launcherx
adb shell pm enable com.google.android.tungsten.setupwraith

Note: On Chromecast with Google TV, the dedicated YouTube button on the remote may stop working after disabling the stock launcher. Use Button Mapper to remap it as a workaround.

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How to use

Action	Button
Navigate apps	D-pad left / right
Launch app	Select / Enter
Open app options	Hold Select (≈0.7s)
Enter move mode	Hold Select → "Move"
Confirm new position	Hold Select again
Open All Software	Navigate to the last card in the row
Add/Remove from home	Long-press app in All Software
Go back	Back / Escape

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Credits

Built by Zahidul Haque Tipu

Based on FLauncher by Étienne Fesser - open-source Android TV launcher licensed under GPL v3.

Sound effects sourced from Deckthemes Switch 2 Sounds Pack

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License

NS Launcher is a closed-source skin. The underlying FLauncher engine it is built on is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.