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Google TV includes an Apps only mode that hides personalized recommendations and puts installed apps at the center of the home screen. The built-in setting requires no third-party launcher, but it does not remove every banner or menu, and accessing the Play Store can be less convenient.

Google TV’s Apps only mode offers a built-in way to hide personalized recommendations and focus the home screen on installed apps, without downloading a third-party launcher. The setting is tucked into account preferences rather than the initial setup, and it comes with limitations: some banners and menus remain, and reaching the Play Store may take extra steps.

In Apps only mode, Google TV removes its personalized recommendation rows from the home screen and presents installed apps as the main focus. Users can arrange those apps in their preferred order and uninstall ones they no longer need. The feature can be switched on from All settings, then Accounts & Sign In, by selecting a profile and enabling the toggle.

The mode is reversible through the same account settings: turn it off to return to the standard Google TV experience. It does not require installing additional software, changing accessibility settings or using an app to remap remote-control buttons. Google Photos screensavers and casting from other devices continue to work, according to the report.

Testing described in the report found that the result was not completely free of promotional clutter. A “Discover more apps” banner remained above the app icons, although its shortcut did not work in that test. Apps can still be installed, but the home screen does not provide a convenient Play Store shortcut while the mode is active.

A Simpler Home Screen Without a Launcher

For viewers frustrated by recommendations they do not use, Apps only mode is a low-effort alternative to replacing Google TV’s interface. Because it is built into the system, trying it does not add another app or require users to adopt a separate launcher. That may appeal to people who want a less crowded screen but are wary of changing settings or managing extra software.

The trade-off is less clutter, but less convenience and control than a dedicated launcher may offer. Apps only mode narrows what appears on the home screen; it does not consolidate every system menu or remove every visible suggestion. It is a basic option for reducing recommendations, not a complete redesign of Google TV.

The Setting Is Hidden in Account Preferences

Apps only mode is not presented during initial device setup, so viewers may miss it unless they look through the settings. The report says Google describes the feature as useful when guests are using a device and the owner does not want personalized recommendations displayed. The same behavior can also make the home screen feel more focused for everyday use.

Third-party launchers such as Projectivy offer a different approach, with more customization and ways to group or simplify controls. But they require installation and setup. Apps only mode sits within Google TV itself, and switching back to the standard interface is a matter of disabling the toggle.

“Apps only mode hides personalized recommendations on your Google TV home screen and focuses the UI on your installed apps instead.”

— XDA Developers

Banners and Menus May Still Remain

The report does not establish that every Google TV device or software version displays the same remaining banner or menus. Its account of the “Discover more apps” shortcut and the Mi Home tab reflects one tested setup; the extent to which the interface varies across devices is not specified. It is also unclear whether Google may change Apps only mode in later software updates.

The mode’s name should not be taken to mean that all advertising disappears. The described benefit is hiding personalized recommendations and centering installed apps, while at least one app-discovery banner remained in the reported test. The report does not establish that the toggle removes every form of advertising across Google TV.

Try the Toggle Before Installing a Launcher

Viewers can test the setting by opening All settings → Accounts & Sign In, choosing their profile and enabling Apps only mode. Before switching, it may help to install the apps they expect to use regularly: the Play Store remains available through system settings, but is not readily accessible from the mode’s home-screen shortcuts.

If the simplified view is not enough, users can switch the setting off or explore a third-party launcher. No Google announcement of a change to Apps only mode is reported, so the immediate next step for viewers is to check how the feature behaves on their own device.

Key Questions

Does Google TV Apps only mode remove recommendations?

It hides personalized recommendation rows and focuses the home screen on installed apps. The reported test still showed a “Discover more apps” banner, so it does not remove every banner or suggestion.

How do I turn on Apps only mode?

Open All settings, go to Accounts & Sign In, select your profile and enable Apps only mode.

Can I install apps while Apps only mode is on?

Yes, according to the report, but the home screen does not offer a convenient Play Store shortcut. The Play Store can be reached through system settings by viewing all apps and showing system apps.

Does Apps only mode replace a third-party launcher?

Not fully. It reduces recommendations without adding another app, but offers less customization and leaves some menus and interface elements in place.

Source: XDA Developers