If you have ever sideloaded an app on your Android TV , you might have discover that it does n’t show up on the home screen and neither the app drawer . One way to access such sideloaded apps is via athird - political party launcherlikeSideload Launcher , HALauncher , etc . But , you may not set a third - political party launcher as the default option launcher . Hence , you would always have to launch the third - party catapult first and then the sideloaded app . Quite deadening !
So , a better way to plunge sideloaded apps is to post cutoff on the default Android TV launcher and use the apps seamlessly . Here ’s how you do it .
How to Open Sideload Apps From The Default Android TV Launcher
so as to place shortcuts of sideloaded apps on the nonremittal Android TV catapult , we would postulate a third - party app called TV App Repo . It ’s an open - source app and lets you place shortcuts of sideloaded apps on the nonremittal Android TV launcher . Internally , it just instal a dummy app on your Android telly that points to the sideloaded app .
Unfortunately , TV App Repo is not available on the Google Play Store . Hence , you will have to download the apk from APKMirror on your smartphone and thensideload it to the Android television .
Step 1: Download the ‘TV App Repo’ on Your Android
In order of magnitude to download the TV App Repo , head over to the APKMirror link above . On the download varlet , scroll a bitdownwardsand sink in on the “ Download APK ” button .
DownloadTV App Repo(APKMirror |GitHub )
Step 2: Send Apk File From Your Phone to Android TV
Once you have the apk downloaded on your Android smartphone , we ask to institutionalize it to your Android television . you could do that by using a third - party app likeWiFi File ExplorerorSend Files to TV . For this presentment , I am using the Send Files to TV app but you’re able to always read our elaborated article onhow to sideload apps to your Android TVfor a better understanding .
Download and deploy the Send Files to idiot box app both on the Android TV and smartphone .
On Android idiot box , enter the app and clack on the “ Receive ” clitoris to bear file transfer .
Now , lead over to your Android smartphone . Download and set up the “ Send Files to television ” app .
On your Android smartphone , tap on the “ Send ” button and pick out the “ news.androidtv.tvapprepo ” apk file cabinet . Next , you will be prompted by the TV name and IP Address . water tap on it and the file will be shared straightaway .
Both the Android TV and Android smartphone call for to be on the same Wi - Fi internet .
Step 3: Install the TV App Repo on Your Android TV
Once you have the app on your Android TV , practice athird - party file managerlike theFX File Explorerto access and set up the apk data file . Within FX File Explorer , sail to the “ Download ” folder and tap the “ news.androidtv.tvapprepo ” apk filing cabinet .
When you chatter on the apk file , Android TV will ask you to provide app installation permission to the FK File Explorer . To do that , click onSettings .
On the “ Install unknown apps ” page , ferment on the toggle beside “ FX ” to countenance it to install apps .
Now , manoeuver back to the “ TV App Repo apk ” filing cabinet and come home on it again . Next , cluck on theInstallbutton to put in the app .
Once the app is installed , select Done . steer back to the App Drawer and reach the “ TV App Repo ” app .
Step 4: Create Shortcut using the TV App Repo
The telly App Repo app will mechanically observe the sideloaded apps that do n’t show up in the default Android TV rocket launcher . to create a cutoff for them , navigate to the “ Leanback Shortcuts ” tab .
On the Leanback shortcuts tab , you will have the unsupported sideloaded apps . you could pick out and tap an app whose shortcut you would like to come in on the AndroidTV launcher . In my case , I want to create a shortcut for the “ AZ Screen Recorder ” app . Hence , I ’ll press the AZ Screen Recorder icon .
When you flick on the AZ Screen Recorder option , you will get a check dialogue . Just press the “ Create Shortcut ” button .
TV App Repo will set up a dummy parcel on your Android TV that will redirect to the sideloaded app . Similar to the File Manager , Android TV will ask you to provide installation license to the TV App Repo app .
Under the Install unnamed apps bill of fare , turn on the toggle switch beside the “ Tv App Repo ” app to put up it installation permit .
Now , head back to deploy the AZ Screen Recorder app .
Once you have the app installed , you will see an AZ Screen Recorder entree in the Default Android TV App Drawer . When you tick on it , it ’ll found the AZ Screen Recorder app right away .
you may also make a favorite entry for the app and access it from the nursing home silver screen . TV App Repo also lets you put website links on the Android TV home screen . you may direct press the link and launch the website within a third - party web web internet browser .
Also Read : How to see Apple TV+ on Roku , Firefox , Android TV and Chromecast