Every app on the home screen
Two rows of large cards, sorted by name or in your own order. Move the focus and the name appears above the card.
Google TV · Android TV · Launcher · Patreon
VxDesktop
A home screen that shows every app, and puts the store one click away.
VxDesktop replaces the Google TV or Android TV home screen with a clean launcher: every app you installed in two tidy rows, an action bar with a Store button, notifications, themes and a kiosk mode. It also lays out properly on a screen turned on its side.
- Platform
- Android TV, Google TV (Android 9+)
- Languages
- 7, or follow the system
- Get it on
- Patreon
How to get VxDesktop
VxDesktop is a supporter app on Patreon. It is installed with GTV-toolkit, our Windows app for Google TV, which can also switch your home screen to it and bring the original back at any time.
1
Open the Patreon post
Follow the link below for the download and the steps.
2
Install with GTV-toolkit
Connect your TV from Windows and install VxDesktop from the built-in app library.
3
Switch the home screen
Use Switch to Custom Launcher in GTV-toolkit, and press Home on the TV to check.
Why people switch launchers
Three things the stock Google TV home screen does not do.
Find the store again
The stock Google TV home screen has no Play Store tile. VxDesktop puts a Store button on the action bar, one click away.
See the apps you installed
Apps without a TV banner, like phone apps you sideloaded, are missing from the stock home screen. VxDesktop lists them like any other.
Works in portrait
Turn the display on its side for signage or a photo frame and the layout follows, with screen rotation set up from GTV-toolkit.
Yours to customise
Background picture or video, dark mode, stickers, your own action buttons and icons.
Screen rotation and portrait mode
The stock Google TV home screen is built for landscape. VxDesktop supports a rotated display, so a vertical TV, menu board or photo frame gets a tall layout. Set the rotation from your PC with GTV-toolkit.
Features
Everything VxDesktop does, in plain language.
Store button
The action bar opens the app store in one click, so you never have to hunt for it again.
Screen rotation
Supports a rotated display, so a portrait TV or signage screen gets a proper tall layout instead of a sideways landscape one.
Action bar with eight buttons
Messages, Store, Browser, Gallery, Mouse, Settings, Power and Add, plus as many of your own buttons as you like.
Power menu
Sleep, restart and shut down from the action bar (VxDesktop only).
Notifications on the TV
A message button with an unread dot, a scrollable list and a banner for new notifications.
Lock and kiosk modes
Protect settings with a password, show only one app, or start an app automatically after a countdown.
Themes
Background image or video, dark mode, stickers, custom action icons, and seven languages.
Screenshots
Captured from the running app on Android TV. Device details and app lists in the pictures are sample data.
Home screen: apps in two rows, clock, action bar 
Scroll sideways to reach every app 
Long-press an app for its menu 
Hidden apps list, restore with one click 
Power menu: sleep, restart, shut down 
Reorder apps with the remote 
Notification list on the TV 
New notification banner 
Lock mode: set a password 
Add your own action button
Seven languages
English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, French and Spanish, or follow the system language.
Japanese 
German 
Chinese
VxDesktop or Sideload Folder?
Two launchers from the same family. They can be installed side by side.
| Feature | VxDesktop | Sideload Folder |
|---|---|---|
| All installed apps on the home screen | ✓ | ✓ |
| Store button on the action bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rotated or portrait displays | ✓ | ✓ |
| Notifications on the TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lock mode and single-app kiosk | ✓ | ✓ |
| Background picture or video, stickers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gallery and Mouse buttons | ✓ | – |
| Power menu (sleep, restart, shut down) | ✓ | – |
| Advanced custom action types | ✓ | – |
| Themeable action icons | 7 | 4 |
| Where to get it | Patreon | Google Play |
Frequently asked questions
What is VxDesktop?
VxDesktop is a custom launcher for Google TV and Android TV from Cloud Curry Studio. It replaces the home screen with two rows of app cards, an action bar, notifications, themes and lock modes.
Why can I not find the Google Play Store on my Google TV home screen?
Google TV has no Play Store tile on the home screen. You can press and hold the voice input button on the remote and say "open Google Play Store", or add a Store button to your home screen with a launcher such as VxDesktop.
Why are some of my installed apps missing from the Google TV home screen?
The stock home screen lists apps built for TV. Phone-style apps and many sideloaded apps have no TV banner, so they are hidden there. VxDesktop shows them as normal app cards.
Does VxDesktop support screen rotation and portrait mode?
Yes. It lays out for a rotated display, which suits vertical signage and photo frames. GTV-toolkit on Windows can set the screen rotation from your PC.
How do I set VxDesktop as my home screen?
Install it, press Home and choose VxDesktop when asked, or switch with GTV-toolkit on Windows. GTV-toolkit can also bring back the original home screen at any time.
Where do I get VxDesktop?
VxDesktop is distributed to supporters on Patreon and installed with GTV-toolkit, our Windows app. See the Patreon post for the steps.
What is the difference between VxDesktop and Sideload Folder?
Both share the same look. VxDesktop adds the Gallery, Mouse and Power buttons, the power menu, more action types and seven themeable icons. Sideload Folder is the lighter version on Google Play.
Can I hide apps or lock the home screen?
Yes. Long-press an app to hide it or reorder it, and turn on lock mode to hide Store, Settings and the Add button behind a password.
Which Android versions does it support?
Android 9 or newer on Android TV, Google TV and TV boxes.
Take back your TV home screen
VxDesktop for Google TV and Android TV.