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PSA: Nova Launcher's owning company sells their user data. It was a good launcher when it first came out, but it's been nothing but a downward spiral from there.
Edit for clarity: I don't mean the app itself. It is owned by an entity that exists to sell consumer data.
I've been using Nova for ages, probably back from the KitKat days on a Samsung phone running Touchwiz, i.e. when everything from the vendor side was crap.
I just switched back to my Moto G5's stock launcher. Honestly, it already does everything I did with Nova. It supports theming, adaptive icons, you can configure the density of its grid, etc. So I uninstalled Nova. Fuck it.
Realistically I think most stock launchers are probably perfectly adequate for everything normal users want to do these days.
I used to use Total launcher to make the most convoluted home screen possible that literally nobody but me knew how to use. Like several circles you swiped on in different directions to open folders, absolutely no labels, etc. Now I just use the stock pixel one lol
But, but, they assured us that that wasn't going to happen? You mean they lied??
JFC, what a fall from grace for Nova. Sad to see.
Use an Open Source launcher, here my recommandations :
Lawnchair, basic launcher to replace stock launcher
Kvaesito, search based browser and a lot of customization
Mlauncher, fork of Olauncher, minimalistic and text based
I've been using Kvaesito lately and I absolutely love it.
It's search based, meaning you can have an extremely minimal appearence while having lots of customization options and extremely quick access to apps (and app features, most importantly).
I strongly recommend using it if you like efficiency
Its insane that custom launchers are even needed. I gave the base Samsung version a try and it wont even let me move the app drawer button, its glued to the bottom right. I'd expect an android to let me customize more than windows. Never understood the big tech companies need for this much control. Some brand manager will have a heartattack if I change an app icon, a basic feature in any version of Windows.
They keep things locked down for the 50% of the population with below average intelligence. It makes things easier to trouble shoot when you can't move the important stuff. Also that group is usually the loudest complainers when they can't find something, or something goes wrong.
I used Nova for years. When they got bought out I switched to a bunch of different launchers. My favorite turned out to be Kvaesitso.
It was weird for me at first because having apps on the main screen was something I've grown acustomed to. You can have a row if you want though. There is an option. After using it for a few weeks, I realized their layout works best for me.
Let me know if there are other launchers you recommend. I appreciate it.
I tried to like Kvaezitso, and I loved some of the features, but it's too strict in others that I didn't like. I want Lawnchair and Kvaezitso to make love and have a perfect baby.
I've been working on a launcher for a while now, do help me test it out!
Features include:
Planned features include:
After getting a replacement phone, I had to redo everything. I decided to check out some new options. I have nova prime and have loved it.
I am now using Niagara Launcher. It's different. Very different. The team recommends using the app for at least a week to give it a true test run. I did have my doubts because it's so different but dang do I love it. I haven't switched back and I don't mean this to throw shade on nova. Nova is great, but I like this better.
Instead of thinking of ways to change the launcher, they created a whole new launcher as if they didn't take into consideration the current way we do things.
Give it a shot.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=bitpit.launcher
I second that! Been using it for ~4 years now and I so much prefer it to the old launchers. After installing it I completely stopped testing new launchers.
Does anyone still remember the old (2010) launcher called slide it. Unfortunatly it was discontinued and I have always been searching for an adequate replacement. In Niagara I have found it.
Anyway, back to why i like Niagara so much. With every other launcher the workflow is like this:
which takes ages and is tedious.
On Niagara I just swipe along the left or right edge until the letter my apps name is starting with appears and click the icon. That's it.
Having notifications beneath your favorite apps and an included media control app when audio is playing is superb. (I'm using the pro version). Calendar is aCalendar btw.
Best few bucks I have ever spend for some android app.
I keep hearing about Niagara and everyone says the same thing, it's different.
Could you describe how it's different? Just the setup, or is it different when you're using it?
The whole concept is different. I've just started trying it and the gist of it is that it's basically only the app drawer, but on steroids. There is no home screen to arrange, you simply set favorite apps that show up first. Anything else you select by scrolling through the alphabet, which seems quick enough if you know the app name you're looking for.
I can already tell that I would love it more if favorites were redesigned a bit to use the initial space better. But this would betray the simplicity they are trying to achieve.
I switched to Niagara when Nova was bought out. I've tried other launchers in the meantime, but once I got used to Niagara I never wanted to go back to a "normal" launcher.
My recommendation is Niagara Launcher. It's more minimal than other launchers. I like the reduction in clutter.
That apps list reminds me of Windows Phone for some reason. Oh, and the mobile version of KDE Plasma too.
I switched to Lawnchair a while back (android 14 broke folders in nova for me). It's not got the same depth of customisation, but ive found it pretty good alternative. And so far seems quick and reliable.
Been using KISS over at F-droid for a few years now after moving on from Nova Launcher. It isn't for everyone but it isn't run by goons.
I used KISS for a while and found mlauncher, which is similar in concept, to work better for me. I had to force KISS to restart frequently enough where it became a problem.
Novalauncher 6.2.19, before they added telemetry
Are there any launchers that have Nova's 2 best features?
I've tried Lawnchair and it was missing these 2 features. I will switch to any launcher that supports these!
Action Launcher has this I think.
I've been using Neo Launcher for a while as a Nova replacement and it's pretty good. Both of those features are included as well as things like shortcut actions when you double tap or swipe on the home screen.
Lawnchair
I thought that's in perceptual pre release.
Idk, it is what it is, I've used it ever since Nova got kinda dumb like 5-6 years ago. Put it on every phone. It hides apps, keeps my phone looking clean. It's excellent.
Yea that's what i switched to after nova sold out, its alright gets the job done. Fuck Nova
I use Olauncher, pretty similar to Niagara and is FOSS. https://github.com/tanujnotes/Olauncher
I really like Fast Draw. I wanted the app pages like Nova has, and personally didn't really need any more than that. This one works like a charm!
https://github.com/peterfajdiga/FastDraw
When I found out how scummy they were with user data I moved to KISS launcher. It took a few days to get used to but I'm very happy with it now.
I tried a bunch. The only one I really love is Niagara. It's simple and awesome.
Dammit lol that's the one I picked to use
Maybe it will keep working unchanged for a while
Man I am really struggling to find a replacement launcher that works for foldables. Neo and Total have scaling issues that make icons giant
I've been using Niagara launcher and it works great. It's a different launcher "workflow" though.
I still use version 7 of Nova, it's the only launcher in the market that knows how to handle icons. Any other is frankly a disaster, they can't make them look good at all.
Been using smart launcher for a while. I like that the pro version offers blur.
Noe launcher. used nova on my pixel 6, now neo on my pixel 8