Any advantages of 3rd party launcher for Pixel 6?

[mustang7757]

I run Nova Launcher on all my Samsung phones, but haven't been running it on Pixel or OnePlus phones. Other than the search bar at the bottom, that can't be removed, I like the pixel launcher. I may try Nova when I get my 6 pro. The cool thing about Nova is they're always working on it and updating.

Same for me

 

[TraderGary]

I've used Nova Prime since it was introduced. It's as smooth on Android 12 as running stock Android. It's a simple option to change back and forth between the Google stock launcher and Nova Prime to compare.

 

[stevenjb2020]

Either Nova Prime or Microsoft Launcher

 

[NMCynthia]

I love the Microsoft Launcher. I use the white Lines icon pack, and use the Bing Daily Pics for the wallpaper (a new one every day). I like a clean, uncluttered phone home page and the Microsoft Launcher gives me that.

 

[neil74]

I'm using the Nova Launcher Prime version 7. The animations on my P5 are every bit as smooth as the stock Pixel launcher in Android 12.

Really? I used it on Pixel 5 a couple of weeks ago and the double animations when going home etc were all still there. Maybe I'll try again would love to use Nova again

 

[lcs101]

I would struggle without Nova. I particularly rely on the icon swipe gestures. For example, if I tap on the Facebook icon, it goes to Facebook. Swipe up and it goes to Instagram. Swipe down and goes to Twitter (which I never actually use, but still cool feature). Or I have a work folder, and if I tap on that icon it goes to one app. Swipe up it opens the folder. Swipe down, another app. Lastly, I have icons for a few people I regularly text/call. Tap their icons and it goes directly to messages. Swipes up and it calls them. Helps me keep nice and tidy home screens while still having a number of apps/actions at my fingertips.

 

[Javier P]

I would struggle without Nova. I particularly rely on the icon swipe gestures. For example, if I tap on the Facebook icon, it goes to Facebook. Swipe up and it goes to Instagram. Swipe down and goes to Twitter (which I never actually use, but still cool feature). Or I have a work folder, and if I tap on that icon it goes to one app. Swipe up it opens the folder. Swipe down, another app. Lastly, I have icons for a few people I regularly text/call. Tap their icons and it goes directly to messages. Swipes up and it calls them. Helps me keep nice and tidy home screens while still having a number of apps/actions at my fingertips.

This ^^

I do exactly the same. Each icon on the home screen triggers three different actions, being app shortcuts, folders, contact icons ...

 

[mustang7757]

This ^^

I do exactly the same. Each icon on the home screen triggers three different actions, being app shortcuts, folders, contact icons ...

Thats one of best features of 3rd party launcher especially Nova

 

[lcs101]

One thing about Nova that is really annoying me so far. Anytime I go to the Home Screen (from out of an app, for example), there is a delay before I can do any other action...such as open another app or swipe to another Home Screen. (This never happened on my Note with Nova.)

The other thing is swiping up from home. When I am on one of my secondary home screens, if I swipe from home more than the smallest amount, it does not work (does not go to recent apps either). Not sure if this is normal behavior. It wasn't an issue on my previous phone, but I still had the 3-button swiping, so I'm thinking this might just be something I have to get used to.

 

[bkdodger2]

One thing about Nova that is really annoying me so far. Anytime I go to the Home Screen (from out of an app, for example), there is a delay before I can do any other action...such as open another app or swipe to another Home Screen. (This never happened on my Note with Nova.)

The other thing is swiping up from home. When I am on one of my secondary home screens, if I swipe from home more than the smallest amount, it does not work (does not go to recent apps either). Not sure if this is normal behavior. It wasn't an issue on my previous phone, but I still had the 3-button swiping, so I'm thinking this might just be something I have to get used to.

I'm not seeing any delay to the home screen from inside an app. Also, what do you have under gestures for the home button?

 

[bkeaver]

I switched over to Nova about a week ago and no delays here either, at least none that I have noticed.

 

[lcs101]

I'm not seeing any delay to the home screen from inside an app. Also, what do you have under gestures for the home button?

There is no delay to get to the home screen. It's right after I get to the Home Screen (coming out of an app or the app drawer, for example), the delay happens. If I try to swipe left or right to one of my other home screens or try to open another app right away, nothing happens. I have to wait a half a second

Also, the box is checked "to return to the main home page with the first "tap"

 

[bkdodger2]

There is no delay to get to the home screen. It's right after I get to the Home Screen (coming out of an app or the app drawer, for example), the delay happens. If I try to swipe left or right to one of my other home screens or try to open another app right away, nothing happens. I have to wait a half a second

Also, the box is checked "to return to the main home page with the first "tap"

I understand what you're saying.. are you using a backup from previous? Maybe try to clear cache and data and do a fresh check with Nova to see if it works without these issues..

 

[Javier P]

One thing about Nova that is really annoying me so far. Anytime I go to the Home Screen (from out of an app, for example), there is a delay before I can do any other action...such as open another app or swipe to another Home Screen. (This never happened on my Note with Nova.)

The other thing is swiping up from home. When I am on one of my secondary home screens, if I swipe from home more than the smallest amount, it does not work (does not go to recent apps either). Not sure if this is normal behavior. It wasn't an issue on my previous phone, but I still had the 3-button swiping, so I'm thinking this might just be something I have to get used to.

After Android 10 all third party launchers have a slight delay when going back home with navigation gestures. This is caused by Android and the new way to handle Recent apps and the delay/redraws will vary depending on your brand and model. Things have improved in Android 12 but still not perfect. Changing to navigation buttons you'll have no delay at all and changing the animation values to 0.5x in the Developer Options could help, only a bit.

About the swipe for the app drawer. This gesture works everywhere on the screen if you select Swipe in Open app drawer. The swipe up from the bottom trigger different actions that you can change in Nova settings - Gestures.

 

[Javier P]

Oooops, forgot the screenshot about the app drawer setting

 

[lcs101]

After Android 10 all third party launchers have a slight delay when going back home with navigation gestures. This is caused by Android and the new way to handle Recent apps and the delay/redraws will vary depending on your brand and model. Things have improved in Android 12 but still not perfect. Changing to navigation buttons you'll have no delay at all and changing the animation values to 0.5x in the Developer Options could help, only a bit.

About the swipe for the app drawer. This gesture works everywhere on the screen if you select Swipe in Open app drawer. The swipe up from the bottom trigger different actions that you can change in Nova settings - Gestures.

Thanks for the response. It's a shame about the delay. It explains why it didn't happen with my previous phone, as I used the 3 navigation buttons. I decided to switch to Android's gesture navigation and overall prefer it. Just find the delay annoying. I thought about changing the animation, but have read that causes problems with the AOD and finger print scanner, so didn't want to screw that up.

In terms of the swipe up, I didn't make that as clear as I should. I have the general swipe up from anywhere to go to the app drawer, which gives me no problems. It's just the swipe from the home "button" that is a bit finicky. Though I just realized it's only when I'm trying to get to my main Home Screen from one of the secondary ones. It just requires a very very short swipe, or it does not work. It's fine when exiting an app though, so maybe not the end of the world. I'll just swipe left or right to get back to main screen in the future.

(I know all of the "swipe/gestures" verbiage gets a little confusing when trying to distinguish between Android's gesture navigation and Nova's swipe/gesture features)

 

[lcs101]

I understand what you're saying.. are you using a backup from previous? Maybe try to clear cache and data and do a fresh check with Nova to see if it works without these issues..

Appreciate the response. Started everything fresh, but it seems from Javier's post, it's behaving normally. I wish they'd improve it, because I'm used to going to the Home Screen and then quickly swiping left or right or opening an app. Having to wait is annoying.

 

[Javier P]

Thanks for the response. It's a shame about the delay. It explains why it didn't happen with my previous phone, as I used the 3 navigation buttons. I decided to switch to Android's gesture navigation and overall prefer it. Just find the delay annoying. I thought about changing the animation, but have read that causes problems with the AOD and finger print scanner, so didn't want to screw that up.

In terms of the swipe up, I didn't make that as clear as I should. I have the general swipe up from anywhere to go to the app drawer, which gives me no problems. It's just the swipe from the home "button" that is a bit finicky. Though I just realized it's only when I'm trying to get to my main Home Screen from one of the secondary ones. It just requires a very very short swipe, or it does not work. It's fine when exiting an app though, so maybe not the end of the world. I'll just swipe left or right to get back to main screen in the future.

(I know all of the "swipe/gestures" verbiage gets a little confusing when trying to distinguish between Android's gesture navigation and Nova's swipe/gesture features)

Which Nova version are you using?

 

[lcs101]

Which Nova version are you using?

7, which I guess is technically still in Beta. I should have mentioned that before. Apologies. I'd say maybe one or both will get ironed out eventually, but it sounds like from your earlier post, the delay is normal behavior. (I'm less concerned about the swipe up from home when on my secondary home screens, as I think I can get used to just swiping back left or right to it...though it would be preferred to have to not do that)

 

[bkdodger2]

Appreciate the response. Started everything fresh, but it seems from Javier's post, it's behaving normally. I wish they'd improve it, because I'm used to going to the Home Screen and then quickly swiping left or right or opening an app. Having to wait is annoying.

Yes very frustrating indeed..I would not be able to keep the launcher if I was seeing those delays ...I only have one homescreen and the Google to the left feed ...my animations are always set to zero...no issues here with AOD or the FPS ...you might want to see if it improves with no animations ...