Hello :)

[ArbuckleRedbeard]

I've been an android user for a while, and I've just changed from a Huawei to a pixel 8, and I'm a bit shocked at how un-customisable the UI Is!
I will probably be asking loads of questions, and reading many replies
Hope you won't get too fed up of me..

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Yeah, the Pixel Launcher could be more versatile, but this has been how it is with Pixel (and Nexus before that). If you want a lot of customizability on any device, install a 3rd party launcher like Nova.

 

[jhilker]

Welcome! I used Nova almost exclusively before getting my first Pixel. Haven't had it since then, but I may need to give it a try again. I loved it on my LG phones.

 

[mustang7757]

Welcome to AC!

 

[belodion]

Welcome and enjoy.

 

[ArbuckleRedbeard]

Hi all, I will give Nova a go, it's just that it feels like a backward step compared to my old p30...

 

[mustang7757]

Hi all, I will give Nova a go, it's just that it feels like a backward step compared to my old p30...

Some Android manufacturers have more customization out of the box then others but Nova definitely gets the job done.

 

[B. Diddy]

Hi all, I will give Nova a go, it's just that it feels like a backward step compared to my old p30...

The way I've always looked at Pixel (and Nexus before that) is that it's more of a blank slate for the user to add what they want (rather than Google loading a whole bunch of preinstalled options out of the box). This has changed somewhat over the years, as Google has positioned the Pixel to be the Android alternative to the iPhone, but in many respects, that's still the case. Also keep in mind that adding versatility to a launcher increases its size -- on my Pixel 7 Pro, the app size for Pixel Launcher is 2.16 MB, while Nova is 21.95 MB (and for additional comparison, One UI Home on my Galaxy A32 5G is 9.06 MB).