Nova Launcher, one of the most popular Android home screen replacements, is basically dead

https://9to5google.com/2025/09/08/nova-launcher-shutting-down/

71 points · 23 comments · view on lemmy.world

23 Comments

callyral@pawb.social · 12 pts · 331d (3 replies)

i use Kvaesito Launcher though i've used Nova Launcher before.

Damage@feddit.it · 3 pts · 330d

I just started using Kvaesitso, but without folders it's rough

maggio@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 330d

Kvaesito had lag issues on GrapheneOS in the past, but it was fixed about a year ago. Finally made the switch from Nova, and can only say good things about it

variety4me@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 330d

Its my daily on grapheneos

Cris_Color@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 331d (3 replies)

I'm still waiting for a FOSS launcher to add padding adjustments for the home screen, widgets, and dock, half grid snapping, allowing overlap, and setting any widget as a search bar

And maybe other stuff. Still really sad Nova fell into this state, I genuinely depend on settings that are exclusive to it

I'll probably just be using Nova with network connectivity disabled for some time to come. Maybe when I blow up my home screen setup and start over I'll try to work within the constraints of another launcher :/

Statick@programming.dev · 2 pts · 329d (1 reply)

Maybe make some feature requests for Lawn chair? Or show support for existing feature requests if they're already made?

https://github.com/LawnchairLauncher/lawnchair

Cris_Color@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 329d

Yeah, I do need to sit down and do that sometime

clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 331d

That's where I am, too.

jotaro__@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 331d (2 replies)

Not FOSS, but the one that got me to let go of Nova was Octopi Launcher.

Very close to a drop in replacement, brings most of the features and customizability that I got very used to.

Klordok@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 329d (1 reply)

I'm liking it so far. Is there a way to add internet search to the app search bar?

jotaro__@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 329d

Most I could find is this, so maybe in the future?

https://lemmy.world/comment/16703742

hellmo_luciferrari@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 330d (6 replies)

I am currently using Nova with internet access blocked. There is one feature no other launcher I have ever used has that Nova does: swiping on an icon on the homescreen up or down allows to launch a different app or activity.

I want to find an open source replacement but no matter what launcher I find, they all lack this feature.

lemmy_get_my_coat@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 330d (5 replies)

I just went launcher shopping recently - Total Launcher lets you assign different swipe shortcuts for four directions and a few other options IIRC. It's very customisable so I'm giving it a go in parallel with my normal default of Kvaesitso.

hellmo_luciferrari@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 330d (4 replies)

I'll give this launcher a shot. It's UI and setup is clunky comparatively to Nova. But I will play around with it more yet!

lemmy_get_my_coat@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 329d (3 replies)

Yeah definitely not as polished from a setup POV, that threw me too

hellmo_luciferrari@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 329d (2 replies)

I've been playing with it. And I can't say I love it like I love Nova.

It sure seems customizable, but the UI and wording about options could be better.

I can't seem to make my taskbar/dock have more than 4 icons.

lemmy_get_my_coat@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 329d (1 reply)

Took me a while the get the place to long-hold just right, but if you do it on the edge of one of those app drawer/dock widgets it should pop up the top settings bar, there you hit the cog and there should be slides for row and column count.

hellmo_luciferrari@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 329d

Perfect! Thank you!

Leg@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 330d

I'm forever on Nova 7.0.58. The ship has been sinking for some time now.

Fuck_u_spez_@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 331d

Lawnchair isn't bad if you like the stock Pixel launcher.

EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com · 2 pts · 329d (1 reply)

Stupid question, but I've never used any of the Android launchers: what are people using them for? What do they do that makes them worth using over the stock interface?

Numuruzero@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 329d

I can't give a good answer but here's my answer: I use Nova because it lets me set a custom image for folders. I made a custom background for my home screen and then set up folders with transparent images to make "hotspots". It's neat.

whiwake@lemmy.cafe · 1 pts · 331d

You shouldn’t be using android anyway, it’s google influenced. You can’t degoogle fully while using anything google influencies, which includes chromium/blink. …..this also includes electron and its apps (sorry)