LAUNCHER SETUP
Android TV Launcher Setup from Your Phone: What to Check
A phone can make selecting and arranging TV apps more convenient. The important part is knowing what the phone controls, what stays on the TV and what your firmware allows.
A launcher and a phone companion do different jobs
The TV launcher displays Home on the television and responds to your remote. A phone companion can help you choose apps and review a setup. Downloading an Android phone APK on a computer does not turn it into a desktop application; transfer the approved file to your Android phone to install it there.
Understand the local connection
TVPilot’s current implementation connects the phone directly to the TV on the same trusted local network. Google sign-in is used for account-backed records; it is not a cloud tunnel that makes an offline TV reachable.
Android Debug Bridge, or ADB, is a developer connection used for operations such as installing apps. Android supports more than one connection and pairing flow; see the official ADB documentation. TVPilot currently uses authenticated legacy network ADB, not pairing-code wireless debugging. A TV offering a different debugging method is not automatically compatible.
Check before changing Home
- Find the TV model, Android version and firmware/build in Settings → About.
- Compare those details with the app’s current compatibility information.
- Confirm that the required network debugging mode exists and that you can approve the phone on the physical TV.
- Review what will change and how the recorded Restore path works.
Keep everyday use simple
With TVPilot Home configured on supported firmware, use the TV remote to navigate your selected apps. Continue Watching is best effort and depends on the provider sharing usable progress. A launcher tile does not establish Netflix or other provider compatibility.
Check the Android APK release status and setup instructions before installing. TVPilot is in development; unverified firmware profiles are inspection-only and the public production APK is not available yet.