Launchers, in case you haven't yet come across them, jump into
action whenever you tap the Home button — they control the home
screens, the app drawer, the notifications tray and various other key
parts of the Android interface that lies underneath the apps you
install on top. Here's how to install alternative Android launchers.
The default launcher in stock Android Lollipop is the Google Now
launcher (with Google Now one swipe to the left); but Android 5.0
adds full support for alternative launchers, so you can easily
install new ones and switch between them with a couple of taps.
Installing a launcher
Installing a launcher isn't much more complicated than installing
any other app, though choosing one can be tricky for the beginner.
Nova,
Apex
and Themer
are some of the most well-known, and we recently covered 10
of our favorites to save you the trouble of having to test them
all out.
Each one has its own pros and cons, and the one that suits your
needs best will depend on how much time and effort you want to spend
customizing your handset. Most are free, or at least have a free
version, so you can see which one is most suitable for the way you
use your phone.
Install your launcher of choice from the Google Play Store and it
should ask you for permission to replace the default launcher the
first time you run it. Here we're going to look at installing and
configuring the free version of Apex Launcher, but other launcher
apps work along similar lines.
Managing your launchers
Open up the Settings app, tap Home and you can set which of your
installed launcher apps is the default one (the one that's activated
when you tap the Home button). Launchers can be uninstalled
completely using the trash icons to the right. With the default set,
you can configure the launcher.
Many launchers have a variety of free and paid-for themes that you
can find through the Google Play Store or through the app itself.
Take the Shadow
Theme for example, which makes your icons pop out and is
compatible with a variety of different launchers, including Nova and
Apex.
Follow the Apex Settings shortcut on the home screen and you can
configure all kinds of settings: The size of the home screen grid, a
separate background for the dock, the way the device responds to
gestures, how folders are displayed on screen, even the speed at
which menus scroll by.
Each launcher app has its own set of themes and settings so you
may need to experiment with a few until you find one that suits —
these utilities are so versatile that exploring all of the available
options can't be done in a rush. The reward for your time and effort
is pixel-by-pixel control over Android.
And don't be afraid of experimenting either — with one tap on
the relevant trash can in the Home
section of Settings you can undo
all of your changes and get back to the default look, just as you
left it (though your wallpaper may have been altered along the way,
depending on the theme).
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