GameShift

tientien17

1.0.0 · GitHub

Download APK

Input methods Android 8.0+ 2 months ago Apache-2.0

59 ShizuStore

169 GitHub

3 Stars

2 MB Size

More about this app

Auto-switches the default home launcher when a game controller connects and restores it on disconnect, using Shizuku without root.

GameShift

Auto-switch your Android home launcher when a game controller connects.

Plug in a gamepad → GameShift sets itself as the default HOME launcher. Press HOME and your game launcher opens instead of the system launcher. Disconnect the controller and everything goes back to normal. No root required.

Built for Android head units, retro-gaming handhelds, and any device where you want a dedicated game launcher to pop up when a controller is plugged in.

Demo

Before — No Controller	After — Controller Connected
Pressing HOME opens the normal launcher.	Pressing HOME opens your game launcher.

Screenshots

Welcome	How It Works	Activate Shizuku

Configure Launchers	Onboarding Complete	Main Settings

Quick Start

1. Install Shizuku

GameShift uses Shizuku to switch the default launcher — it's like root access but safer and easier. Download Shizuku from Google Play or GitHub, open it, and tap Start. On Android 11+ you can start it wirelessly right on your phone — no computer needed.

Note: Shizuku stops after every device reboot. You'll need to re-start it from the Shizuku app (or use Wireless Debugging scripts to auto-start it on rooted devices).

2. Install GameShift

Download the latest APK from the Releases page, open it on your device, and follow the install prompt. You may need to enable Install from unknown apps for your file manager or browser.

3. Set up

Open GameShift — it'll walk you through the setup.
Grant the Shizuku permission when prompted.
Pick your Game Launcher (the app that opens when you press HOME with a controller connected).
Pick your Normal Launcher (your usual home screen).
Tap Start Service.

4. Play

Connect a game controller (USB or Bluetooth). GameShift detects it, switches the HOME launcher, and shows a "Game On!" toast. Press HOME — your game launcher launches. Disconnect the controller and your normal launcher comes right back.

Features

Automatic launcher switching — connect a controller → GameShift takes over HOME. Disconnect → normal launcher restored.
HOME button routing — press HOME with a controller connected and your game launcher opens, not the system launcher.
Game Mode Rotation — force landscape, reverse landscape, or keep your current orientation when a controller is connected.
Boot-safe — service restarts automatically after a reboot.
Battery optimization alert — the app warns you if battery optimization might kill the service and offers a one-tap fix.
No root required — Shizuku handles the elevated permissions.

Requirements

Android 8.0 (API 26) or higher
Shizuku installed and running (download)
A game controller (USB or Bluetooth)

Troubleshooting

Shizuku says "not running"

Open the Shizuku app and start it. On Android 11+ you can start it wirelessly from the Shizuku app without a computer.

Controller not detected

Pair or connect the controller before starting the GameShift service.
Some Bluetooth controllers use non-standard HID profiles — try USB if Bluetooth doesn't work.
Check the GameShift notification icon — it shows whether a controller is connected.

HOME button still opens the normal launcher

Open GameShift and check the status cards: all three (Controller, Shizuku, Service) should show checkmarks.
If Shizuku is off, start it from the Shizuku app.
If the service is off, tap Start Service in GameShift.

"Launcher picker" appears instead of my game

The app you selected might not have a proper home-screen intent. Try a different game launcher.

Service stops after a while

Battery optimization may be killing it. Open the app — the battery status card will show if you're optimized. Tap Exclude App to fix it, or go to Settings → Apps → GameShift → Battery and set it to Unrestricted.

Building from Source

git clone https://github.com/tientien17/GameShift.git
cd GameShift
./gradlew assembleRelease          # signed release APK

Output: GameShift-v{version}-release.apk in app/build/outputs/apk/release/.

Contributing

Bug reports, feature requests, and pull requests are welcome. Please use the issue templates for bug reports and feature requests to help triage efficiently. See the .github/ directory for templates.

License

Copyright 2026 GameShift

Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
You may obtain a copy of the License at

    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
limitations under the License.

Acknowledgements

Shizuku — The backbone of this project.
flipx — Original inspiration for the auto-launcher-switching concept.
Logo & mascot — Designer contributions welcome! Open a PR with your artwork.

How Shizuku is used

Can switch the default home launcher on controller connect and restore it on disconnect plus control rotation via `cmd` and `settings` through Shizuku.

This is an AI-assisted analysis of Shizuku-related usages in the app's public source code. It is best effort, so it may not catch every single usage.

How this app uses Shizuku

GameShift uses Shizuku to change the system default launcher and screen rotation automatically when a game controller connects or disconnects.

Switch to game launcher: when a controller connects, the app makes itself the default home launcher so the game launcher appears, using privileged role manager commands through Shizuku.
Restore original launcher: when controllers disconnect, the app removes itself as home and restores the previously saved launcher with the same privileged mechanism.
Control screen rotation: when entering and leaving game mode the app saves the current rotation, forces landscape or a chosen landscape orientation, then restores auto rotate, applied with system settings commands through Shizuku.