Android’s most beloved launcher may be done for good

I've been using kvaesitso. I like it!

https://f-droid.org/packages/de.mm20.launcher2.release/

Yeah, it's open sauce, has shortcuts, widgets, & works fine.
- I also really like the tagging feature.
Oh, this is great news. I have Nova tweaked to work almost exactly like this. Excellent, thank you.

These companies lack any sort of common sense. Nova is used (and suggested) by Android users that are at least minimally tech-savvy. What on earth would make them believe that news like this one would remain secret, and therefore allow them to keep the userbase to suck on their data?

I hate being hinted and asked to click on the link, so I save you a click:

It’s the end of an era: the founder and original developer of Nova Launcher — Kevin Barry — has stepped away from the development of the iconic custom launcher. This essentially marks the end of the road for the launcher, as it is unlikely to receive updates or new features. For years now, Nova Launcher has been the go-to launcher for power Android users, standing out for its plethora of customization options and features.

Now that Nova is in literal limbo, if not allegedly in the hands of some data miner, there should be talk about substitutes.

This app may share these data types with third parties
This app may collect these data types

That talk about substitutes happened when it was initially handed over to said data miner, and anybody concerned should have switched back then. I did, moving to Lawnchair, and never looked back. Oodles of other options are doubtlessly available.
- Lawnchair was too bare bones for me. However, I was able to recreate 90%+ of my Nova setup with Neo.
  https://github.com/NeoApplications/Neo-Launcher
- I'm quite satisfied with lawn chair too
I hate being hinted and asked to click on the link, so I save you a click:
Are you using a different client? Without teaser texts? The Lemmy website mentions Nova in the teaser.
- I'm on the PC and using Firefox, viewing Lemmy directly rather than on mobile.
  Android’s most beloved launcher may be done for good
  I see only this.
I hate clickbait too. Just downvote posts like this
I would be so happy if Kevin got accidentally 'hacked' and the source leaked, by now im so ingrained in nova that it just feels wrong switching.
if not allegedly in the hands of some data miner,
it's android. what do you expect? It's one giant data miner.

if it's nova launcher I'm gonna be pissed.

edit: it's nova launcher. fucking fuck.

Seriously, one of the few apps I've ever paid for - and this is what I get?!
Hey by any chance do you have the last APK file and the SHA256 of that file ?
Oh wait, it this it ?
https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/teslacoil-software/nova-launcher/nova-launcher-8-1-1-release/nova-launcher-8-1-1-android-apk-download/
Name: com.teslacoilsw.launcher_8.1.1-81001_minAPI26(arm64-v8a,armeabi-v7a)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk
Size: 11970405 bytes (11 MiB)
SHA256: 30bccfdd995969089ad364a7a6bb7bbea482a703fbfb30ebccad6418aa977fec
Is there an x86_64 version ?
Just making sure we've got the last version saved
Oh wait, it's not open source ? And they've been acquired in 2022 ?
date of acquisition 2022-07-19
Ok, last one before the acquisition, just in case
https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/teslacoil-software/nova-launcher/nova-launcher-8-0-2-release/nova-launcher-8-0-2-android-apk-download/
Name: com.teslacoilsw.launcher_8.0.2-80002_minAPI26(arm64-v8a,armeabi-v7a)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk
Size: 12580956 bytes (11 MiB)
SHA256: 61a760413387dde99f2a2ef4b065caf278b575c8028cc5b3092f05192cfee258
I'm sorry, brother. My condolences. I actually get my launcher from Fdroid and so I'll probably also be fucked.

Am I the only person that uses KISS launcher on this site? Once I got used to how it functions switching to something different will be hard.

I love KISS launcher. I can't go back to normal launchers. Been using it for years.
It's that vertical one aye? Used it for oldie backup phone and it was a blessing. But if you use more apps, it's not worth it imo
- Searching is way faster than trying to keep stuff organized in folders and screens. You get at least two clicks anyway and you keyboard is already there.

For those coming looking for alternatives, this mega comparison chart is what I used to select an alternative launcher when I switched.

I would strongly recommend checking this site for the trackers in an app if you're at all concerned about privacy. Links to each app's exodus privacy report is also at the end of the table linked above.

Help a brother out, which one is closest to Nova? I don't mind paying for good work, I just want home screens and being able to place my icons where I want, also widgets!
- There's no direct replacement. The features I use are in Pear launcher so I use that. You have to look through launcher comparisons to find the features you need.
  I've made a post about this and some people are giving recommendations. Check out comments here: https://europe.pub/post/4256799
Nice list. I recently started using Fossify Launcher and have been pretty happy with it. It's simple but does what I need. Thought I'd mention it as it's absent from that list.
- Fossify is a tad too basic for me. I use the dialler and calculator. Both have slight issues. The calculator always starts with zero so tapping 1416 will give you 14016.
  Dialler doesnt seem to wake or respond as quick as others.
  I take it as it is given I know it is private and open but still there are gaps in UI and UX with foss that I wish were a bigger priority.
So if Neo started updating again I think it is the closest open source match?
- 100%
  I stuck with Neo for ages waiting for updates to fix the last few issues.....and they never came. Neo would be perfect if someone forked it and continued development.

In a Reddit AMA, the then-Branch CEO Alex Austin also revealed that if Kevin ever left Branch, they would open-source Nova Launcher's code and release it to the community.

We still have hope if they keep their promise!

Read a bit further:
Two years later, Kevin Barry left Branch and is no longer involved in Nova’s development. In his announcement, Barry revealed that he had been the sole developer for the past year, spending recent months preparing to open source Nova Launcher and clean up its codebase. However, Branch ultimately asked him to stop both development and his open-sourcing efforts.
- Yeah, I read it. But they still promised open source, nothing about Barry working on it or not.
  That's why I said "keeping their promise"
https://teslacoilapps.com/nova/solong.html
- Big unlucky.
Are you being sarcastic?
- No, that wasnt intended.

I'm very thankful to Kevin for this amazing launcher that I'm still using to this day.

Also a bit disapointed he trusted Branch and gave them the opportunity to ruin it.

It's always capitalism
- You make it sound as if human greed as part of the human condtion will suddenly and magically disappeared under any other form of trade or political system. That is not what literal history has us shown to be the case, over, and over again.
  What fucked it up was he selling to the wrong company. But we do not know why he did it. For all we know, he was tired to taking lead in the project and wanted to cash out. He was entitled to do that, or what is the option, force him to work on it just for your needs or to sell to only the company that you or I approved of? What gives us the right to force their hand?
  It sucks but that is what he wanted. We both agree that it us unfortunate though. It is too bad.
Man probably needed to eat. What a system we've got.
- I asked many years ago to add an option to send donations. They said it wasn't needed. I wonder if additional revenue may have helped.

I might be misremembering but wasn't it bought out by one of those data harvesting companies a while ago?

Yes

Mine for the last 3 years

https://f-droid.org/packages/fr.neamar.kiss

KISS is so good. It's 100% the fastest way to get to where you wanna be when you pull up your phone.

I don’t even know how to use Android without Nova…

Why does nothing good ever last?

I switched to Niagara a few years back because Nova didn't have good support for foldables and tbh I haven't looked back. It's very different but once you get used to it it's much faster than a traditional launcher.
- I've been using Niagara for about 6 months now and love it. Having the alphabet down the side of the home screen for immediate 2 tap access to any app is so slick.
- I switched to Niagara a few years ago when Nova was sold. True game changer once you get used to it (which doesn't take too long). It works great on phone or tablet. And there is still something SO satisfying about watching the alphabet and apps move with your thumb. It's so smooth and the haptic feedback is perfect (running on Pixel 7, GrapheneOS, and a cheap old Samsung tablet A8).
  Random video showing the UI within the first minute:
  https://youtu.be/sh6q5bjcaXQ
Yep, have been using and currently using Nova for the last 8 years I think. Suuucks to see it go as I couldn't find a viable search based launcher like Nova when it was sold.
I like Olauncher a lot but I can't do like a feature comparison with Nova, I never used it. Hope you find something good to replace it with though!

God DAMMIT.

I don't know why, but this is some proverbial straw for me today. Motherfuck.

Same. I loudly exclaimed "FUUUUUUCK" as I read the article, much to the confusion of my partner.

Its Lawnchair or nothing for me.

I used to use lawnchair but there was some lag with it. Now I use whatever default launcher there is that graphene has
- I dislike that I can't group up things in folders in graphene in the drawer. I switched to Smart Launcher. It's not exactly folders, but it's good.

I just use the Fairphone 2 Launcher and it's fine 🤷🏻

I used Nova on my last phone and it worked great, I paid for pro. So I know what I'm missing, not worth it to get back in the Google Play Store system though. I like being anon with no Google account, especially considering Nova sold to a company that data mines user data?

Fuck, I've been using this since I got an android phone in 2008. RIP.

KISS has been the only reasonable launcher ever since Android ruined it's overview system.

Niagara is my favorite by far, i have been paying for pro for years

Man, I've been using it for a long time. I was going to buy the forever sub a while ago and never did. When did it jump to $42. I could've sworn it was like 20.
Yup, switched to Niagara a few years ago and I don't intend to ever switch again.

Does anyone have recommendations to replace Nova?

There's no direct replacement. The features I use are in Pear launcher so I use that. You have to look through launcher comparisons to find the features you need.
Also, I'm surprised purple are still using Nova. I thought most people abandoned it after it got sold.
- because it is much more stable, plenty of customisation and ofc one time payment.
- I installed it on my HTC one and have used the exact same wallpaper and layout ever since. Change is scary and let's be real.
  Who the ACTUAL fuck pays attention to the launcher they are using. They find one they like and then unless something breaks they forget they are even using one.
- I'm using it without updates
It's very much not a classic launcher and takes some getting used to, but Kvaesitso is nice.
- I'm using Kvaesitso as well. But just looked at the permissions and I am shocked. Don't know when the permissions changed, but I'm switching right now.
- It took me two tries to get used to Kvaesitso but now I love it. I was using Nova until the Branch acquisition, then briefly tried lawnchair but had to move on as it wasn't very stable. Once I realised I could start apps by pressing enter after searching I found it much quicker than scrolling through an app drawer. Unless you can't remember the name of the app that is.
I love my Niagara Launcher ! it's a different concept than most launchers, and looks pretty spartan on first glance, but it's sleek, efficient and can look absolutely fabulous. The Pro stuff is a bit pricey, but it has a good privacy policy, autodelete data older than a year, and are GDPR compliant.
- autodelete data older than a year
  okay, but why do they collect the data in the first place?
I've been using Lightning Launcher for over a decade now.
It's no longer on play store, but a version is available at https://github.com/TrianguloY/LightningLauncher
Lots of customization options.
if you are asking about combinations of customisations, flexibility and stability. none atm.
- Have you tried total launcher? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ss.launcher2 I used it in the past and the amount of customization was huge.
  But then I got old and wanted something simpler. Been using Kvaesitso for the last years https://kvaesitso.mm20.de/
I switched from Nova to Smart Launcher and haven't looked back.
- I've been using smart launcher for years it's automatic categorization is amazing. Though, wanting change, I recently started using Niagara, and like the minimalist approach too.
I have used and enjoyed lawnchair for the past year. It's quite minimal and I've found it very stable.
Have been using Neo Launcher since it had the features I needed from Nova (mostly hiding most apps from the app list while having them on the home screen in some folder so that it isn't a mess when you want to find something specific). It hasn't been updated in a while, but it works perfectly fine for me.
I've been using Hyperion for a few years. I mostly wanted something with app drawer folders like nova offered and this was the best I could find
Action launcher is a good replacement that I don't see recommended. Still updated, stuffed with features. The main one I miss on other launchers is "covers" which let you promote one app as the default for a folder, you can swipe it instead of tapping to open the folder or tap to open the default. I only really use about 10 or so apps super regularly, so it's great as I just have a single home screen that I rarely need to leave
- I actually switched from Action Laucnher to Nova because the former kept crashing.
Octopi Launcher seems quite promising.
Trebuchet seems good...?

Niagara launcher has been my go to for years now

Looks great, but i don't think i can live without widgets. Especially for home-assistant and calendars
I find the ckncept interesting, but I often don't remember the name of an app. I need to see its icon.
- It shows native icons by default

Damn.I need to find an alternative. I also like the Microsoft Launcher, but it's Microsoft...

gahdam...end of an era. This sucks.

i use oxshell

Are you alright?
- pretty waves backgrounde,

Reminds me of QuickPic and ES File Explorer

Dammit. I knew I should she already switched once they were bought but I couldn't find anything that matched the features at the time.

I really like being able to set swipe actions on my icons. For example swiping up or down on an icon will open an alternative app, folder, or a specific functionality. It's allowed me to keep a clean screen while keeping everything I need accessible.

This literally the only feature I care about. How has no other launcher done that?
- I'm surprised too. It's a killer feature. Any launcher that implements it would get a lot of us as new users.
That's the one feature I am missing after switching to Lawnchair. This and the additional gestures it allowed to configure which I used extensively for like quickly opening my 2FA app. Man how I miss those features...

It's sad to see it go, for people that want to try a minimalist launcher, ap15 is great.

I don't understand the point of most of Android launchers, since they don'tcreally look that different from each other.

That’s just not true, especially with Nova, the one this article is talking about. Nova lets you customise basically everything.
To feed you ads, or make you pay for nothing special. Nova - the launcher from the article - is great, very customizable, and lightweight.

This isn't a very popular opinion, but I just use the stock Huawei one. Works perfectly for me

Depends on the phone. I hated the one on my oneplus 3 so i needed nova but the one on my current phone has the basic customisation options i was using nova for.