HorizonX: a lightweight, customizable home screen for Android TV

Description and use

HorizonX is a lightweight, customizable launcher for Android TV that adds animated cards, weather, greeting, and multi‑language support.

Problem

Android TV and Google TV lack a remote‑friendly, customizable home screen with animated cards and easy app access.

Outcome

HorizonX delivers a lightweight, animated, and multilingual launcher for Android TV, improving remote navigation and app access while remaining under 500 KB and ad‑free.

Workflow

• Download the 500 KB APK from the GitHub release or build via the PC/ADB installer.
• Sideload the APK onto the TV using a file manager or run the PC installer scripts (Windows, Linux, macOS) with Python 3.10+ and Android Platform Tools.
• Launch HorizonX and use the remote to navigate animated cards and rows.
• Switch back to the original home screen via the provided instructions in the README.

Evidence

I built HorizonX to give Android TV and Google TV a more customizable home screen.

Source

A background that follows the selected item, with expanding app cards

Source

You can sideload the APK from USB using a file manager on the TV, or use the included PC/ADB installer.

Source

The repository also contains experimental installers for Samsung Tizen, Roku, Fire TV, and Hisense VIDAA; those ports have not been tested on those TVs.

Source