5 Apps to Customise YOUR ANDROID PHONE

TECHTONIC

5 Apps to Customise YOUR ANDROID PHONE

29.11.2021

All Android handsets run a customised version of the stock user interface. That said, you always have the choice to install a third-party ‘launcher’ from the Play Store to customise the home screen, its appearance, the way apps are launched, or just switch to a minimalistic UI. Ashutosh Desai recommends five Android launchers you should check out.

NOVA LAUNCHER | This app lets you choose how many apps can be fitted on the homescreen by adjusting the grid size, icon style, size, font, and more. You also get a ‘scrollable dock’, so you can have app shortcuts within your thumb’s reach without adding more homescreen pages. A backup option in Nova Launcher lets you save your customisations to a memory card or a preferred location. With this config file, you will be able to port your settings to a new phone easily.

Nova Launcher also has a paid version that unlocks features like the ability to hide apps, create folders within the app drawer and assign swipe actions for certain apps.

APEX LAUNCHER | Apex offers a similar set of features like the ability to customise the homescreen grid and adjust animation speed. However, its user interface is more intuitive. On first launch, it launches a wizard to help you set up basic features where you can choose how you prefer to browse the app drawer (horizontal or vertical), select the number of apps that should appear on the screen, and change UI transitions.

Apex Launcher also lets you create styles for app folders to help you differentiate them by colour. Its free version also includes the option to lock apps with a PIN or pattern. You also get a backup/restore option, so you don’t lose your Apex Launcher preferences.

MICROSOFT LAUNCHER | Instead of the usual Google apps and services, this launcher brings the Microsoft suite of products up front. If you are an Android phone owner who relies on Microsoft’s range of productivity apps — Outlook, OneDrive, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc — then you should give this launcher a whirl. You can even opt for a daily wallpaper, courtesy Bing.

If you sign in with your Microsoft ID then this launcher will sync with your calendar, email and documents to your phone. Even if you do not want to sign in, you can use the launcher while enjoying the benefits of being connected to select Microsoft services.

SQUARE HOME | Microsoft’s Windows Phone was discontinued but its user interface lives on. Square Home mimics the simple tiled Metro UI: You get one homescreen with shortcuts to frequently-used apps. They appear as large resizeable blocks that are easy to access and read. This makes it suitable for folk who find the Android UI cluttered or confusing.

Each tile can be configured to respond differently to a single tap or long-press, and display notifications like a ‘live tile’. Other options include colour themes, assign actions to the stock home keys, and more.

LAWNCHAIR 2 | Lawnchair 2 sports a clean, near-stock Android appearance but also packs in a number of features. You can use third-party icon packs from the Play Store, pick default colour accents, customise the app drawer — adjust opacity, icon size, column count, etc — and hide apps from plain view.

You can configure the dock to start web searches and access basic info like weather, time, battery status with a quick glance. It also includes gesture support, with the option to install plug-ins to create new shortcuts.

Note: You can always revert to the original launcher. Open Settings > App Management (or Apps) > Default Apps. Select “Home app” and choose the launcher you want to use. Removing a third-party launcher is as easy as uninstalling an app from the Play Store.