Notes on Android launchers

Last updated : 5/9/2026 (Yagni Launcher)

Introduction

With Nova Launcher being bought out by Branch (yet another ad corpo), I am probably going to need to look for another launcher app. At the moment of writing (6/6/2023), I'm still stuck with Nova Launcher (7.0.27).

My personal requirements

Here are the things I will need for my next launcher app:

• Works without internet access.
• No hard dependencies on Google Play services whatsoever.
• Downloadable through Git releases / F-Droid / official site (with the last one preferring a non-soydev site), not just some Telegram groups and/or Google Play Store (and any of their unofficial mirrors, such as APKMirror / APKPure / uptodown)
The downloadables must be a single full APK, not some split APKs. Full APKs for different architectures are tolerated as long as they work & don't need a separate installer app other than the system's inbuilt package installer.


• Properly maintained, with effort to ensure it works on the latest Android version. Old & unmaintained builds might be fine, but as time goes on & users update to the latest Android version, these builds will eventually not work.
• If the app features a paid-only Play Store exclusive feature unlocker, all requirements listed above this point aside from downloadable through other sources will be applied. However, the single APK requirement still apply.
• UX should be as similar as possible with Launcher3 (before added features). Special interfaces are nice to have, but unfortunately I'm not looking for those.
• Support for opening apps with gestures within the launcher. This is not related to AOSP navigation gestures, which I don't use.
• Option to disable wallpaper scroll; or if that option isn't present, the wallpaper must not move while changing pages in launcher.
• No zoomed wallpaper by default. Failing that, an option to disable wallpaper zooming is required.
• Backup and restore options to minimize time spent setting up the launcher.

Some nice to have things for the next launcher:

• Infinite horizontal scrolling for app drawer & home screen
• Either an option that allows toggling Screenshot and/or Clear all on/off in recents menu; or Clear all replacing Screenshot by default. Screenshot is useless iin recents menu (especially since there's power & volume down button), Clear all is situationally more useful. Either way, this is only applicable for inbuilt launchers, so moving it here.
• No integrations with internet requirements (like Google Now) unless absolutely necessary.
• Libre software (serves as a double count for my 3rd requirement, if considering Git releases / F-Droid)

Candidates

With my requirements out of the way, here are the candidates:

• Formerly successful :
• Lawnchair : Inbuilt in some custom ROMs. The A12-supporting build is considered Alpha 4 (last released in 8/8/2022) even after A13 QPR3 is released. In addition, the questionable stability in Lawnchair's development team is concerning (though at this point I can only hope the developers got past this issue).
• Nova Launcher (up to 7.0.57) : Beyond 7.0.57, it was bought out by Branch, leading to the creation of this very note. If there are no good launchers for me other than Nova 7.0.57; I'll probably stick to it, at least until a decent launcher comes along.
• Failing after personal testing :
• Neo Launcher : Release 0.9.3 adds in support for launching apps by in-launcher gestures, but unable to prevent wallpaper scrolling.
• Candidates as of 5/9/2026 :
• Murine Launcher : Another user‐installable fork of Launcher3. Feature and usability remain equal to Launcher3 without additions.
• Yagni Launcher : One of those "built from the ground up" launchers (but with Launcher3 esque UX, so I can still test it), it has a promising first impression with infinite horizontal scrolling. However, it is still a bit rough, though it is to be expected from something in early development.
• No way to backup and restore anything yet. Currently requested in issue 315
• Moving app icons around the launcher does not feel seamless, let alone combining them into one folder.
• Folder management is still rough, requiring long‐pressing it and pressing the pencil icon (edit) just to change its label.
• Some gesture settings (like opening notification panels) require enabling accessibility.
• Immediately requested phone permission on opening. At the very least it is optional and has no Internet permission yet.

Android personal app list

Index ‐ cellphone

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