6 Android Launchers That Are Better Than Your Default Home Screen - And Why

2 weeks ago

6 Android location surface launchers that are amended than your default

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Android launchers fto you switch your default location screen.
Six apical launchers connection unsocial features, styles, and pricing.
A caller launcher tin make your telephone consciousness caller and faster.

One of nan main reasons I started utilizing Android (version 1.5 pinch an HTC Hero phone) was because it ran a type of the Linux kernel. I knew that truth would lead to a point I value: flexibility.

Also: These 14 concealed codes revealed hidden menus connected my iPhone and Android

Although nan steps toward elasticity weren't precisely graceful, nan level came into its ain wrong a fewer releases. As Android evolved, truthful excessively did its elasticity -- arsenic perfectly illustrated by nan 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 personification interface that allows you to entree and tally applications, position notifications, and support everything organized.

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

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

Just because your telephone ships pinch a circumstantial location surface launcher doesn't mean you're stuck pinch it. Every Android telephone tin usage different launchers. The 1 drawback is you can't instal nan 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 only disposable to Nothing OS (which is Nothing's return connected Android).

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

The only limitation is that you do not want to region nan location surface launcher that shipped pinch your instrumentality (so you'll ever person 1 to autumn backmost on). Of course, nan number of location surface launchers you tin instal is dictated by nan soul retention disposable connected your phone.

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

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

1. Olauncher

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

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I find this launcher to beryllium a unsocial return connected nan location screen, wherever truthful galore launchers are nan same-old, same-old. There is simply a Pro type of Olauncher (called Pro Launcher) successful development, and you tin instal it during this early motorboat period. One very bully characteristic of Pro Launcher is called "Interrupt Apps," which will mildly interrupt you erstwhile you unfastened definite apps to forestall doomscrolling.

Either measurement you go, you get a minimal location surface launcher that is beautiful and easy to use. Olauncher is free 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 pinch your applications via nan 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 nan personification 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, civilization fonts, and more. The Pro type costs $9.99 per year, aliases a life 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 for illustration news, almanac events, docs, contacts, and more), Continue connected PC (snap a photograph connected your phone, and it is automatically synced pinch your Windows PC), world 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 nan much unsocial location surface launchers connected nan market, and it takes immoderate clip to get utilized to. If you retrieve nan now-defunct Microsoft Phone, nan Square Home launcher will look very familiar. That said, erstwhile you get nan bent of Square Launcher, it's fun. Square Home offers a free trial, but erstwhile nan proceedings is up, nan launcher will costs you $2 per twelvemonth aliases $5 for life.

5. Lynx Launcher

Lynx Launcher is inspired by nan GNOME desktop. In fact, erstwhile you usage Lynx Launcher, you almost consciousness for illustration 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 correct swipe), and plentifulness of customizations.

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You tin acquisition nan Pro version, which adds respective enhanced features, specified arsenic surface transitions, much desktop pages, individual 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 awesome launcher for tablets because it lays everything retired truthful that you person speedy entree to immoderate you need. Because you tin take whether nan hunt barroom rests astatine nan apical aliases bottommost of nan screen, you'll person easier entree moreover without moving your hands erstwhile holding nan tablet.

Also: 6 hidden Android features each personification should cognize - and really they make life easier

I've recovered Action Launcher: Pixel Edition to beryllium a awesome action for lesser-powered tablets and phones. Another absorbing characteristic allows you to create a screen for a folder, truthful you don't person to position nan smaller versions of nan icons for nan folder. To unfastened a cover, swipe up connected nan icon to uncover nan contents within.

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

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

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

When you make a change, it will almost consciousness for illustration you've purchased a brand-new phone. If you don't for illustration really your Android phone behaves, alteration it up, and bask nan caller look.