Fire OS & Locked Launcher Override Guide
Amazon Fire OS and several locked OEM Google TV interfaces prevent users from setting custom third-party launchers natively. Hearth includes an opt-in, privacy-preserving AccessibilityService that safely intercepts the physical Home button.
1. The Locked Launcher Problem
On standard Android TV, selecting Hearth presents the standard "Use as Home: Always" system prompt. However, Amazon Fire TV sticks forcibly bind the remote's Home button to the Amazon KFTV launcher.
Disabling system packages via debloat tools often breaks system updates, Wi-Fi connectivity, or causes bootloops. Hearth solves this gracefully without modifying system partitions.
2. Privacy-First Accessibility Interception
Hearth implements HomeButtonOverrideService (Spec R4). When enabled:
- The service listens strictly for hardware
KEYCODE_HOMEkey events. - Loop Prevention: If Hearth is already the foreground activity, the event is immediately discarded without redundant intent dispatches.
- 600ms Debounce: Rapid presses are rate-limited to avoid remote stutter.
- Zero Screen Inspection: The service explicitly configures
canRetrieveWindowContent="false". Hearth cannot and does not inspect your screen content or passwords.
3. Step-by-Step Configuration
Enable Developer Options & ADB Debugging
On your Fire TV, navigate to Settings → My Fire TV → About. Highlight your device name and click the Select button 7 times until "You are now a developer" appears.
Return to Developer Options and toggle ADB Debugging to ON.
Install Hearth Release APK
Send the APK to your TV using ADB or any sideload app (such as Downloader or ADBLink).
Enable Hearth Accessibility Service
Go to Settings → Accessibility → Hearth Launcher Service and turn it ON. Alternatively, execute the ADB command below to enable it instantly without entering settings.
4. One-Click ADB Automation Commands
Connect from your computer terminal and execute:
# Connect to your Fire TV / Android TVadb connect 192.168.1.xxx:5555# Grant secure settings permissionadb shell pm grant in.neetinsolanki.hearth android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS# Enable Hearth's home button override service directlyadb shell settings put secure enabled_accessibility_services in.neetinsolanki.hearth/in.neetinsolanki.hearth.service.HomeButtonOverrideService# Turn on accessibility master toggleadb shell settings put secure accessibility_enabled 1