Our 10 favorite Android launchers to customize your phone
Android is an open OS that gives you control over features, such as changing the app launcher. The app launcher is the app you interact with when using your phone. you may choose the launcher that best suits your needs. This openness allows for all kinds of theming, from the best icon packs to the best wallpapers. Today’s roundup of the best Android launchers offers fresh features and theming abilities. Check them out and giveyour favorite Android tableta new look.
1Nova Launcher
The first on the list for a reason
Nova Launcher has been a mainstay on the Play Store since its release in 2012. It offers a standard Android launcher layout with a basic app drawer and several home screens. It’s super customizable, which is why it’s popular. It’s excellent for themers while offering enough tools to get more out of it than what comes with a stock device.
Want to change your icon pack? Easily done. Flip from light to dark mode? Even easier. You can also customize the layout of the app drawer. Since this is the premium version of the app, you get extra features, including gesture support and an easy way to hide apps. Plus, if you want to try it before buying,there’s a free version. Even after all these years, the developer is still actively updating the app, which is why it’s one of Android’s best launchers.
2Niagara Launcher
Minimal and stays out of the way
Niagara is a minimalist launcher that offers quality ergonomics thanks to its app list that scrolls vertically, line by line. This makes it easy to control your device with one hand. The app list is also adaptive, which puts the apps you need at your fingertips. That’s especially useful when it comes to messengers and email apps.
The launcher is free to use, and there are no ads. You’ll plunk down some cash to unlock Niagara Launcher’s complete set of features. it’s possible to pay for a month’s or year’s worth of access. You can get afull unlock for $29.99.
3Hyperion Launcher
Customizability makes this launcher the king of theming
If you’re big into theming, check out Hyperion Launcher. You get the typical features you’d expect like folders and icon pack support, but the customizability sets this one apart. you’re able to change the colors of all folders, plus you get adaptive icon support, scrolling wallpapers, and blur for the drawer and dock. You can make things look as you like, with all kinds of cool effects that give this launcher a wow factor worthy of showing off to your friends and family.
The license for this launcher is $2, and it’s perpetual. There are no recurring costs. You can theme to your heart’s content and save your funds for new icon packs.
Show off your personality without unlocking your phone
4Square Home
You had better like squares everywhere
Square Home might not have a ton of name recognition, but it’s a favorite among users who enjoy minimal designs that are intuitive to navigate. Widgets are supported despite the grid-based layout (your choice of scrolling horizontally or vertically), and you may pack every inch of the screen with useful shortcuts.
The launcher is free to use with a 14-day trial. If you like what you see, unlock the full app and its pro features for $4.99. When you want a Microsoft-style app launcher, a minimal design that is straightforward to navigate, or something different, Square Home has been a mainstay for millions of users. Give it a try.
5FLauncher
The go-to for anyone sick of the s that infest Google TV/Android TV
FLauncher is a minimal and easy-to-use third-party launcher for Android/Google TV. It is completely free to use and does not contain any ads, making it a perfect candidate to replace your TV launcher with something you control.
If you have an Android TV, this app’s for you, especially if you don’t want to watch s. FLauncher is an open source launcher for ATV devices, offering a familiar grid layout for your apps without ads. Seeing that Google shows ads on all ATV devices, replacing the home screen is a way to work around this problem. You can’t set this as your default launcher, meaning you can’t customize ATV. However, you can remap a button on your remote to pull up this launcher, just as you would when pressing the home button, which is a convenient workaround.
Even though Google removed the ability to set third-party launchers as a default on ATV, that doesn’t mean Android developers have given up on providing what users want. This is why FLauncher is a welcome addition to this launcher roundup. It’s free, solves a problem, and looks great. What else could you want?
6Microsoft Launcher
For those who want to stay in the Microsoft ecosystem
Even though we’re discussing Android launchers, the Microsoft Launcher offers a quality experience. It packs all the expected features, including custom icons, custom wallpapers, and a dark theme. Since this launcher comes from Microsoft, it ties into many of its products. It includes the option to sign in with a Microsoft account to access tasks, calendar events, and other services.
Signing in with an account is optional. You don’t need a Microsoft account to use the app. You can use the Microsoft Launcher as you would one from any other third party, customizing it to your heart’s content. The launcher is free, so there’s no harm in looking.
7AIO Launcher
The power user launcher
Make AIO your first stop if you’re looking for something different from a typical app launcher. Instead of showing off flashy icons, this launcher displays your pertinent info, like how much RAM you’re using and where your last calls came from. There’s also a list of your most-used apps.
The launcher offers other options, like a display of your recent text messages or what’s in your mailbox. AIO does all this without collecting personal info. The launcher may have been around since 2017, but it’s gaining attention thanks to its unique and customizable layout.
8Action Launcher
Pixel goodness plus much more
Action Launcher has been around since 2013. While it may not be the newest launcher on this list, it’s proven itself over the years. From the outset, it looks like any customizable third-party launcher. However, it offers an optional pull-out widget drawer and a secondary pull-out app drawer for your most-used apps. This way, you can hide items like your weather widget until you want to check the temp.
You don’t have to use any of this to have a great experience. On its own, Action Launcher provides a stock Pixel look for your device. The choices are yours to make, which is where Action Launcher shines.
9Smart Launcher 6
If you can dream the theme, this is the launcher for you
Smart Launcher 6 is a themer’s dream. Everything on-screen aligns perfectly, and it’s great if you use Android devices that vary in screen size. you could also tweak the formatting per item to create unique looks. Plus, you get adaptive themes and other options, like gesture support and the ability to hide apps.
Smart Launcher 6 is a feature-packed launcher that’s highly theme-able, and it’s free to use, though a few in-app purchases are included. There’s a monthly subscription for $2.49, a yearly subscription for $6.99, and a full lifetime unlock for $16.99. If you pay, you can access features like popup widgets, a slick blur effect, and extra homepages.
10Olauncher
Minimal to the extreme, which lends itself to themeing
Olauncher is something of a wild card. It may not be a familiar name like Nova and Apex, but it packs a wallop if you dig minimal launchers. Everything is laid out cleanly, and your most-used apps are words on the screen. Pairing this with a slick wallpaper gives you an awesome-looking minimal launcher without much effort. You get a couple of free wallpapers each day (light and dark themes), which is great if you don’t want to hunt down your own.
The launcher is free, and there are no in-app purchases or ads. This distraction-free app has an excellent search function that fills the gaps anytime you need to pull up something that isn’t pinned to your home screen.
Don’t forget to dress up your launcher with some cool icons
Now that you’ve looked through the best Android launchers, hopefully, you’ve found a winning listing to add to your phone or tablet. If you want to theme your new launcher with some slick icon packs, check out ourbest icon packs roundupto add flavor to your device.
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