Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
This iconic ad-free Android TV launcher is finally getting a makeover after nearly a decade
Sep 29, 2026 — 3:55 AM ET
- Sideload Launcher is getting an update eight years after the last one.
- It brings an entirely redone interface with a cleaner app list and customization options.
- The launcher remains free of any ads or tracking, and does not even require the internet to function.
Over the years, the Google TV interface has gotten too crowded with full-screen ads, links to paid content, and a bulldozer of Gemini no one asked for. Other than that, Google forbids apps that aren’t preinstalled or downloaded from the Play Store from appearing on the main app carousel, even though the Android framework makes it possible to sideload APKs. An alternative to keep your sanity is a third-party Android TV launcher, and we frequently cover a few good ones here at Android Authority.
A popular option in that category is Sideload Launcher, which displays all your apps, including sideloaded ones, apps installed from unofficial sources, and even those originally meant to run on Android phones and tablets, not TVs. It does all of this without any permission or tracking, the developer claims. Sideload Launcher has been around for well over a decade but hasn’t seen a major upgrade in years. That changes now, with version 2.0 bringing a boatload of new features.
Sideload Launcher’s developer, Chainfire, also the creator of the iconic SuperSU used for access management on rooted Android devices, posted about the development on X and announced their return after an eight-year-long hiatus. They noted that several of their apps (excluding SuperSU) are still used by hundreds of thousands of users. So they decided to update the launcher just to “give millions of users a heart attack.” They also released a tongue-in-cheek video:
While the launcher in its previous form did justifiably enough for what it claimed, the newer update brings a cleaner, more modern UI. It adds a host of options to sort and organize apps more effectively, including dedicated rows for recently opened and favorites. It also adds filters at the top to isolate apps by source and the devices they’re meant to run on.
Users can now also change the shape of the icons and tweak the number of columns. You can also set Sideload as the default launcher on your Android or Google TV, if the TV allows it. The newer version is already available for download and updates via the Play Store, but you can also sideload it using a USB stick or something similar.
Thank you for being part of our community. Read our Comment Policy before posting.