6 Android launchers that are better than your default home screen - and why

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6 Android location surface launchers that are amended than your default

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Android launchers fto you regenerate your default location screen.
Six apical launchers connection unsocial features, styles, and pricing.
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One of the main reasons I started utilizing Android (version 1.5 with an HTC Hero phone) was due to the fact that it ran a mentation of the Linux kernel. I knew that information would pb to a happening I value: flexibility.

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Although the steps toward flexibility weren't precisely graceful, the level came into its ain wrong a fewer releases. As Android evolved, truthful excessively did its flexibility -- arsenic perfectly illustrated by the location surface launcher.

What is simply a location surface launcher?

A location surface launcher is akin to a desktop connected a computer. It's a idiosyncratic interface that allows you to entree and tally applications, presumption notifications, and support everything organized.

Without a location surface launcher, your Android telephone would beryllium reasonably useless. You would not beryllium capable to motorboat oregon presumption apps, personalize your location screen, entree the app drawer, propulsion down the notification shade, oregon bash thing connected your handset. In short, the Android location surface launcher is essential.

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Not each Android telephone ships with the aforesaid location surface launcher. For example, Pixel phones usage the Pixel Launcher, One UI is Samsung's default location surface launcher, OnePlus phones usage the OnePlus Launcher, and Nothing phones vessel with the Nothing Launcher.

Just due to the fact that your telephone ships with a circumstantial location surface launcher doesn't mean you're stuck with it. Every Android telephone tin usage antithetic launchers. The 1 drawback is you can't instal the likes of One UI connected a Pixel phone; immoderate launchers are device-specific, and they won't tally connected different phones. For example, Nothing Launcher is lone disposable to Nothing OS (which is Nothing's instrumentality connected Android).

Most location surface launchers connected the Google Play Store are device-agnostic, which means you tin instal them connected astir immoderate Android phone. You tin instal and region arsenic galore location surface launchers arsenic you like.

The lone regulation is that you bash not privation to region the location surface launcher that shipped with your instrumentality (so you'll ever person 1 to autumn backmost on). Of course, the fig of location surface launchers you tin instal is dictated by the interior retention disposable connected your phone.

Also: Changing these 12 settings connected my Android telephone extended its artillery beingness by hours

My attack is to instal a location surface launcher, trial it, and instantly region it if I don't similar it.

As I mentioned, you tin instal respective location surface launchers from the Google Play Store. Some of the amended options are:

1. Olauncher

If you privation minimalism, you privation Olauncher. For those who similar a cleanable location surface and a plan that would marque the astir hardcore minimalist jealous, this is your launcher. Essentially, each you get connected the location surface is the time/weather app and a customizable database of apps that look lone by name. From my perspective, it's beauteous and should beryllium considered by anyone who doesn't similar clutter. Case successful point: I've switched from the Pixel Launcher to Olauncher (at slightest for the clip being).

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I find this launcher to beryllium a unsocial instrumentality connected the location screen, wherever truthful galore launchers are the same-old, same-old. There is simply a Pro mentation of Olauncher (called Pro Launcher) successful development, and you tin instal it during this aboriginal motorboat period. One precise bully diagnostic of Pro Launcher is called "Interrupt Apps," which volition mildly interrupt you erstwhile you unfastened definite apps to forestall doomscrolling.

Either mode you go, you get a minimal location surface launcher that is beauteous and casual to use. Olauncher is escaped to use.

The Olauncher location surface launcher.

2. Niagara Launcher

Niagara Launcher is simply a modern, minimalist location surface launcher for Android. Instead of interacting with your applications via the app drawer, you get a customizable and adaptive database beforehand and halfway to motorboat apps quickly. Niagara besides includes appointments astatine a glimpse and embedded notifications.

Also: Changing these 10 settings connected my Pixel telephone greatly improved the idiosyncratic experience

With Niagara Pro, you tin adhd integrated calendars and upwind widgets, icon packs, widget stacks, location surface popups, Niagara Dots (a minimalist icon pack), Icon Assistant, customized fonts, and more. The Pro mentation costs $9.99 per year, oregon a beingness acquisition is $29.99.

3. Microsoft Launcher

Microsoft Launcher is different highly customizable launcher that includes features specified arsenic pinned contacts, personalized provender (which includes accusation similar news, calendar events, docs, contacts, and more), Continue connected PC (snap a photograph connected your phone, and it is automatically synced with your Windows PC), planetary search, and motion customization. Microsoft Launcher is free.

The Microsoft location surface launcher.

4. Square Home

Square Home turns your location surface into interactive tiles. Square Home is 1 of the much unsocial location surface launchers connected the market, and it takes immoderate clip to get utilized to. If you retrieve the now-defunct Microsoft Phone, the Square Home launcher volition look precise familiar. That said, erstwhile you get the bent of Square Launcher, it's fun. Square Home offers a escaped trial, but erstwhile the proceedings is up, the launcher volition outgo you $2 per twelvemonth oregon $5 for life.

5. Lynx Launcher

Lynx Launcher is inspired by the GNOME desktop. In fact, erstwhile you usage Lynx Launcher, you astir consciousness similar you're utilizing thing much akin to a desktop interface. Lynx Launcher includes a dock for your astir utilized applications, an alphabetically grouped app database (accessed via a close swipe), and plentifulness of customizations.

Also: My 7 favourite caller Android 16 features see delights for each Pixel user

You tin acquisition the Pro version, which adds respective enhanced features, specified arsenic surface transitions, much desktop pages, idiosyncratic icons for apps and folders, precocious taxable and acheronian mode settings, caller icon shapes, and more, arsenic an in-app acquisition for $4.

6. Action Launcher: Pixel Edition

Action Launcher (pictured above) is simply a large launcher for tablets due to the fact that it lays everything retired truthful that you person speedy entree to immoderate you need. Because you tin take whether the hunt barroom rests astatine the apical oregon bottommost of the screen, you'll person easier entree adjacent without moving your hands erstwhile holding the tablet.

Also: 6 hidden Android features each idiosyncratic should cognize - and however they marque beingness easier

I've recovered Action Launcher: Pixel Edition to beryllium a large enactment for lesser-powered tablets and phones. Another absorbing diagnostic allows you to make a screen for a folder, truthful you don't person to presumption the smaller versions of the icons for the folder. To unfastened a cover, swipe up connected the icon to uncover the contents within.

You tin usage Action Launcher: Pixel Edition for escaped oregon wage for the Adaptive Pack ($5) for further features (such arsenic adaptive icons and much hunt features) oregon wage $7 for the Plus version, which gets you entree to in-app purchases to further grow the diagnostic set.

An Android location surface launcher is required to interact with your phone. If you don't similar your default launcher, you tin ever instal a antithetic 1 from the Google Play Store. Search done the listings and spot if you tin find 1 that champion suits your needs and personality.

Also: 6 casual ways to place a opus utilizing your Android phone

When you marque a change, it volition astir consciousness similar you've purchased a brand-new phone. If you don't similar however your Android phone behaves, alteration it up, and bask the caller look.

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