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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →If Android TV returns to its stock screen after a reboot, first check whether Settings lets you choose a default Home app. If it does not—or the Home button still opens the stock interface—there is no universal fix: the safe next step depends on the TV or streaming device, its software version, and which app handles the Home command. Try the settings option first; use ADB commands only when they are documented for your exact device and you know how to restore them.
First, distinguish a reboot problem from a Home-button problem
A custom launcher can be installed or even selected without taking over every route to the home screen. The device may open its stock interface during startup, or pressing the remote’s Home button may still send the HOME command to the manufacturer’s or Google’s launcher. Check both behaviors after each change rather than assuming that fixing one fixes the other. Project documentation describes Google TV launcher precedence and a fallback package that can re-enable the stock launcher (FLauncher documentation; LTvLauncher documentation).
Try the system’s Home-app setting first
- Open Settings on the TV or streaming device.
- Look under Apps, Default apps, Home app, or Home screen settings. The wording and location vary by device; the available sources do not establish a single Android TV menu path for every brand and version.
- Select the custom launcher if it appears as a Home-app option.
- Restart the device, then test both startup and the remote’s Home button. Note which behavior still returns to the stock interface.
Do not assume that phone instructions apply to a TV. A Google Community answer lists settings paths for some Android 13 phone manufacturers, but it does not verify those paths for Android TV, and Google notes that community content may be unverified (Google Community thread).
If the stock launcher still opens, identify the device before using ADB
Before disabling anything, record the TV or streamer’s make and model, its Android TV or Google TV version, and the name of the launcher you want to use. If you plan to use ADB, determine which activity or package handles HOME on that particular device. Package names are not interchangeable across brands: FLauncher’s instructions cite com.google.android.apps.tv.launcherx and com.google.android.tungsten.setupwraith for Chromecast with Google TV, while other devices may use com.google.android.tvlauncher or a manufacturer’s package. These are device-specific examples, not a universal list of packages to disable (FLauncher documentation).
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ADB method documented for Chromecast with Google TV
FLauncher’s guide says its commands were tested only on Chromecast with Google TV and may differ on other devices. Do not run them on a different model just because the package names look familiar. On the documented device, the guide gives these commands to disable the Google TV launcher and its fallback:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.tv.launcherx
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.tungsten.setupwraithAfterward, press Home and select the desired launcher if prompted. Disabling the stock launcher can affect more than the home screen: FLauncher warns that the YouTube button on the Chromecast with Google TV remote may stop working. Its suggested workaround is to remap that key. The guide advises proceeding at your own risk (FLauncher documentation).
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Restore the stock packages if needed
If the change causes problems, FLauncher gives these corresponding commands for re-enabling the packages on Chromecast with Google TV:
adb shell pm enable com.google.android.apps.tv.launcherx
adb shell pm enable com.google.android.tungsten.setupwraithLTvLauncher also documents disabling the Google TV launcher and setup fallback through ADB, with corresponding pm enable commands for recovery. That is project guidance, not a guarantee that the same packages or procedure work on every Android TV device (LTvLauncher documentation).
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Consider remapping Home when system selection is blocked
A button remapper or accessibility service can intercept the remote’s Home key and open another launcher. This is a workaround for the key press, not the same as making the custom app the system’s default Home handler. FLauncher names Button Mapper, while LTvLauncher documents its built-in accessibility-based Home Button Fix and Key Mapper (FLauncher documentation; LTvLauncher documentation).
These options depend on the device allowing the required permissions and on the utility continuing to work after reboots or software updates. Check that the remapper or accessibility service is enabled, then test the Home button again. A remap may also affect how the key behaves elsewhere.
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Do not confuse Google’s Home-screen experiment with launcher selection
Android TV has a separate experimental setting called “Optimize Home & Apps tabs.” Google documents it at Settings → Device Preferences → Home Screen → Experimental and says to restart after changing it. The setting concerns optimization of the Home and Apps tabs; Google’s instructions do not describe it as a way to select or preserve a third-party launcher. Google also notes that the experiment may become non-optional after it ends (Google Android TV Help).
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose the least risky route for your device
| Approach | When it fits | Main risk or limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Settings default Home app | Your device exposes a Home-app or default-app choice and lists the custom launcher. | Menu labels and availability vary; test startup and the Home button separately. |
| ADB package disabling | The exact device and packages match instructions documented for that model, and you have a recovery path. | Disabling the wrong package can disrupt launcher behavior or remote shortcuts. FLauncher’s commands are documented for Chromecast with Google TV, not all Android TV devices. |
| Home-button remapping or interception | Direct default selection is blocked, but the device permits the remapper or accessibility service required. | It redirects the button rather than changing the system Home handler; permissions and software updates can affect reliability. |
There is no established best method for every Android TV or Google TV device. If the settings choice is absent and you cannot confidently identify the HOME handler and restore the change, avoid disabling system packages. For device-specific help, the essential details are the model, software version, installed launcher, and whether the stock screen appears on startup, after pressing Home, or both.
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