I found these resources to create launcher icons on the home screen for sideloaded apps

by Jasong222

(crossposting this from nvidia shield)

Hey- I been poking around trying to find a decent AndoidTV web browser, with only middling success, and came across a couple things I thought the sub might find useful.

I used this webpage to create an apk that loads icons for a sideloaded app onto the home screen. (I had a sideloaded app that wasn't showing up on the home screen and used this link to create an apk that created an icon for that app on the homescreen.) And it works-

http://atvlauncher.trekgonewild.de/

There is also this link that does similar but I haven't used it. Passing along for reference:

http://nvidiashieldzone.com/shield-android-tv/apk2tv/

One tip- you have to know the actual package name of the app you're working with. Sites like apkmirror rename the files so it's hard to tell. So I used APK Icon Editor to open up some file in the app apk and found the package name listed in the code somewhere. I don't remember which file, some info file should work ok. Anyway, worked for me, so... enjoy-

(And for posterity the thread where I found the installers above: https://forum.xda-developers.com/shield-tv/themes-apps/shortcuts-sideloaded-apps-t3514924 )

adame09

Tv app repo in play store does this too

FoferJ

Thanks for sharing this! Very helpful.

shadywhere

TV App Repo does this also, however it does not have Oreo compatibility.

Or at least I was unable to use it on my Nexus Player running Oreo.

jly26

it would be nice if tv repo app will give us option to change app’s icon tiles on our home screen