Get the Pixel Launcher without root
If your (non-Pixel) Android phone isn’t rooted, you are now finally able to get the Pixel Launcher. A developer on Reddit, AmirZ, was able to create an APK for it based on AOSP Launcher 3. With this launcher APK, you can get the unique weather and time widget and the ‘G’ pill of the Pixel Launcher, plus Google Now.
To download it, go to this post on Reddit and find the latest version to download straight from GitHub (currently called “Pixel-v1.2”). Make sure you’ve allowed your phone to install apps from unknown sources, then install it. Presto!
Android O Pixel Launcher: download and install
If you’re stuck with a phone running Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but you’re dying for the Android O experience, you can get the version of the Pixel Launcher that came with the Android O Developer Preview.
The XDA Developers community is one of the most effective when it comes to providing Android smartphones with new features. Occasionally, certain software elements are made available which are intended exclusively for a particular smartphone or a software version. This is exactly what happened with the Pixel Launcher for Android O.
You can use a so-called “backport” to install the aforementioned launcher, as it is now available in the XDA Developers forum. The only requirement is that your phone has Android 6.0.1 or later and you’ve enabled the option to install apps from unknown sources. The APK file can be downloaded from the main post in this thread. Install the APK file with Android Installer and then press the home button.
Download the latest Android O Pixel Launcher backport APK here
Android O Pixel Launcher: this could be your home screen
The backport of the Android O version of the Pixel Launcher has been outstanding. We tested it with an Android 7.1.2 device. In the latest update of the launcher since the Android O public beta was released, new app shortcuts were added. By doing a long press on app icons on the home screen, we were able to get the context menus to pop up.
pixel launcher add app shortcut to home screen
App shortcuts are becoming more and more practical. / © NextPit
From there you can grab these app shortcuts from the menu and drag them to your start screen or to a folder, so you can access a particular function in an app or quickly start a chat with a favorite contact from the new shortcut.
pixel launcher cute drawer arrow animation
The arrow over the app drawer is animated to swing up and down as you move it. / © NextPit
The app drawer has a physically animated arrow. If you drag the list up, the arrow will show a straight arrow pointing upwards and vice versa. The wings of the arrow appear to move somewhat sluggishly, which is a beautiful detail.
pixel launcher widgets options
The widgets can now be reached via app shortcut. Options allow for adaptive app icon shapes too – theoretically. / © NextPit
Another new app shortcut is for quick access to the list of widgets for an app. If you think about it, the launcher developers could have come up with this idea earlier. Searching for widgets was sometimes so complicated that only you could only find out what widgets an app offers by stumbling upon it when scrolling through the long list. Now, widgets are more actively pointed out.
In the options, you can activate the Google button if the Google app is installed. Notification dots still don’t work unless you have a true Android O smartphone, as older Android versions still lack the necessary programming interface.
To change the background wallpaper in the launcher menu, you need Google’s app, but that’s no problem, as it’s available in the Play Store. Just install the Google Wallpapers app to get nifty wallpapers from the online catalog that change automatically.
Source: https://www.nextpit.com/how-to-download-and-install-android-o-launcher
- https://www.nextpit.com/
- United States
