We have an updated Pixel Launcher 3.0 APK which you can install on your Android device without having to have root. This new Pixel Launcher APK comes from AmirZ who forked the official launcher source code and modified it to be equipped to handle older devices and older Android revisions. We, at TeamAndroid, love the Pixel launcher 3.0 as it gives us a direct insight as to what Pixel devices actually feel like and also gives us the ability to override any OEM launchers on Android smartphones and tablets. Thanks to AmirZ, he didn’t stop at compatibility but he went on to add even more functionality. You can read ahead to find a detailed feature run-down of Pixel Launcher 3.0 app and also how you can download and install it on your device.
The best thing we found with the Pixel Launcher 3.0 is its extended compatibility. It isn’t restricted to one Android revision but it adapts accordingly to each. The app goes back to even support Android Lollipop. Furthermore, the Pixel Launcher 3.0, even though being forked from official source code, gives you the ability to add icon packs to it. Lastly, it tops off by having no root requirement which is amazing. Read ahead to download and install Pixel Launcher 3.0 APK on your phone or tablet.
Pixel Launcher 3.0 APK – Features and Details
Here are the technical details as well as the feature rundown as quoted by AmirZ on his reddit.
Lollipop
- The new Google Now feed is available to the left of the home screen, without needing root access.
- The theme changes based on the wallpaper in use. Dark wallpapers will trigger the dark theme, otherwise it uses the default theme.
- At the top of the first home screen page there is a Smartspace widget with events, weather and the date, all in the Google Sans font.
- The new search bar is at the bottom of the home screen and the top of the app drawer. Google Calendar’s icon changes with the date.
- The exact same screen size profiles from the Pixel 2 Launcher are included. The same grid sizes and icon sizes.
- Google Wallpapers and Voice Search are hidden from the app drawer.
Custom
- Probably the most requested feature in the history of mankind’s development, icon packs are included in the settings app. Just a simple selection list where you can select from the list of packs installed on your phone.
- There are app suggestions based on the amount of drawer clicks at the top of the app drawer. These are not the same as the real Pixel Launcher. I will explain why in the FAQ. Round app icons from Android 7.1 are used when available.
- Calendar icons change with the date if the icon pack you use supports it.
- All icon packs are hidden from the app drawer when an icon pack is being used.
- Google Now Launcher is hidden from the app drawer.
- There is a custom screen size profile with a 6×6 grid when the DPI is low. This automatically kicks in on tablets or large phones. If you want to enable this, your DPI needs to be 370 or less (on a 1920×1080 device). This equals a 467dp smallest width, for those on Nougat.
- You can open and close notifications from anywhere on the home screen by swiping up and down.
- New releases can be found in the settings app when clicking About -> Version.
- Notification/shortcut popups are centered on the screen with a nice animation, when positioning it on the left or right would make it go out of the screen.
- When the popup still goes out of the screen in landscape, the popup arrow is hidden.
- When pressing the search bar without the Google App available on your phone, the browser opens google.com. This makes it useful for MicroG or Pico GApps users on custom ROMs, instead of being a waste of space.
- Themes are hardcoded to look like the Pixel, for compatibility across OEMs.
- The list of all apps gets automatically resized when you start searching, so you can scroll to the bottom.
- For devices without software navigation bar, there is padding under the search widget on the home screen.
Marshmallow
- There are notification dots in the colour of the app’s icon.
- You can view and interact with notifications in the long press popup on apps.
- The settings menu uses the Oreo style and colours.
Nougat
- A light theme is applied when the wallpaper is light enough. This has a dark status bar, navigation bar and text.
Nougat 7.1
- When long pressing an app there will be shortcuts in the popup.
Oreo
- There are settings for adding icons to home screen when installing, and changing the icon shape for adaptive icons.
- Google Clock shows the current time and changes in real time.
- The Google Now feed uses the same theme as the launcher.
Custom
- Adaptive icons are disabled for pre-Oreo apps, so you don’t get boxes in boxes.
The procedure of installation is quite simple. However, if you want a detailed step-by-step guide, we have mentioned it below.
How to Install Pixel Launcher 3.0 APK
Step 1 – Download Pixel Launcher 3.0 APK
File: Pixel-Launcher-3.0.apk
Size: 2.49MB
Step 2 – Locate the APK you just downloaded and open it to install it.
Step 3 – If you are installing an APK directly for the very first time, you would be notified to enable “Unknown Source” setting. If not sure about this, read our dedicated guide: Enable “Unknown Sources” Option in Android.
Step 4 – After enabling, the app should install.
Step 5 – Once it is installed, press the home button. Android should now ask for which launcher to use. Select “Launcher3”. Once selected, you would now be able use the new Pixel Launcher 3.0 on your device.
That’s it! You can now set the Pixel Launcher 3.0 as the launcher of choice on your phone or tablet. .
If these instructions / guide was not clear enough or you are stuck somewhere, you can read our complete guide on how to install APK files on your Android device.
