Make your Chromecast more personal with a launcher: here’s how it works

The Chromecast is great, but it doesn’t feel as personal as an Android phone. A launcher app changes that.

A launcher makes the Chromecast more personal

Where Android phones can be customized from A to Z, the possibilities on Chromecasts lag behind. The most straightforward way to personalize is the so-called Ambience mode. With this you can set personal photos as a screensaver.

If you want a little more, you can consider installing a launcher. This app replaces the standard user interface of the Chromecast, including the home screen.

There are basically two reasons to replace the Chromecast’s default launcher: customization and more features. A good launcher app will let you customize your home screen layout, choose a different color scheme, and switch wallpapers more quickly, among other things.

You also have more features at your disposal, such as the ability to more easily search for interesting media (such as films and series), place widgets on the home screen and work with multiple user profiles.

Which Chromecast launchers are worth it?

There aren’t a ton of launcher apps for Chromecast. Unlike the launcher landscape for Android smartphones, the options are therefore fairly clear.

A popular Chromecast launcher is Projectivy. It is easy to install, is almost completely customizable, and has several unique features.

You can, among other things, adjust the order of apps displayed on the home screen, create new app categories and calibrate the TV screen, which optimises colour reproduction.

The free version of Projectivy does not contain any ads. The premium version is monetized. It offers features for power users, such as the ability to create multiple user profiles.

Projectivy Launcher

Spocky

Another good, easy to install option is Sideload Channel Launcher 4. This launcher does not have a free version, but it is very comprehensive and has a unique design.

In addition to all the standard functionalities, you can design your own tiles for the Chromecast home screen, add widgets to your heart’s content and even choose gif backgrounds.

Sideload Channel Launcher 4

DXIdev

FLauncher is completely open-source. This means that the source code, which describes exactly how the app works, is accessible to everyone.

However, the app is still in an early stage of development and may therefore function unstable according to its creators.

FLauncher

Etienne Fesser

Finally, you also have ATV Launcher. The Pro version of this Chromecast launcher is available in the Google Play Store and allows users to customize the layout, place widgets and protect apps/folders with passwords.

ATV Launcher Pro

DStudio Canada

Installing a Chromecast launcher

Installing a Chromecast launcher is not difficult. You can simply download the apps from the Google Play Store:

Want to set the newly installed launcher as the default? The exact instructions for doing this vary from app to app, but the steps are generally the same.

You’ll likely find an option in the launcher app’s settings menu to replace the default launcher, Google TV, with the app you just downloaded. You should now be using the new Chromecast launcher.

Depending on the program, you may still end up with the standard version when you press the home button on the remote. Is that the case for you? Then you can choose to program the Chromecast remote.

By giving the home button a different function, you will automatically end up with the launcher of your choice, instead of the default environment. In the article below we explain how this works.

Read more: How to program a Chromecast remote

Furthermore, there are (specific functions within) launcher apps that require so-called root access. This process gives the Chromecast user more rights and possibilities. However, rooting also involves risks. You can cause damage. That is why we will not go into this branch of sport any further.

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