Nova has lengthy been the go-to app launcher for Android customers. When it first received launched, Nova was well-known for the sheer quantity of customization choices it supplied. Even previously few minor/main revisions, new options had been constantly added to the launcher—and it presents quite a bit without spending a dime.
However should you’re in search of power-user options like swipe gestures, customized drawer teams, hidden apps, and extra, you’ll need to improve to Nova Launcher Prime. Let’s discuss concerning the options that make Nova Prime the very best launcher for Android.
1. Add Deep Linking Search With Sesame Shortcuts
Android’s on-device search is much from optimum. In a day-to-day workflow, you must faucet or swap between a number of screens to get the related data. Sesame Shortcuts is a third-party app that solves this drawback, and it helps native Nova Launcher integration.
As soon as it’s linked, you’ll be capable to entry totally different sorts of in-app shortcuts. You may create a shortcut to allow one-tap entry to make calls, ship SMS messages or emails. And it makes it straightforward to look recordsdata, areas, essential settings, apps from the Play Retailer, WhatsApp conversations, and extra from a single place.
The built-in API provides you entry to look YouTube subscriptions, subreddits, Slack channels, Spotify Playlists, Telegram chats, and Twitch.
- Navigate to Setup, verify the Activate information integration field, and allow the required permissions.
- After establishing the app, head to Nova Settings > Integrations and activate the search integration.
Obtain: Nova Launcher Prime ($4.99)
Obtain: Sesame Search and Shortcuts (Free trial, $2.99)
2. Combine the Google Uncover Web page
Google Uncover (beforehand Google Now) is a fast solution to entry information or tales Google thinks will enchantment to you. You may customise the content material in keeping with your pursuits, and let Google curate the feed. To know extra concerning the fundamentals, right here’s our information on utilizing the Google feed on Android.
In case you’re utilizing a third-party app launcher, it’s not straightforward to get entry to the Google Uncover web page. Nova Launcher has a workaround to combine the feed into the left-most web page of the launcher. You’ll must sideload the official Nova Google Companion app first onto your system, then go to Nova Settings > Integrations and verify Google Uncover.
To make sure the Google Uncover characteristic works correctly, head to Nova Settings and uncheck Residence Display screen > Infinite scroll.
3. Customise Swipe Gestures
Gestures function an important device to get your work achieved shortly and effectively. Within the case of Nova Launcher, gestures offer you fast entry to the screens, apps, or customized shortcuts that requires a number of faucets.
To see all of the choices, go to Nova Settings and choose Gestures and Inputs. By default, swiping down with one finger brings up Search, and swiping up reveals the App Drawer.
To customise them, faucet any gesture to open a display screen with three choices—Nova, Apps, and Shortcuts. For instance, you possibly can select to increase notifications on swiping down, launch the WhatsApp digital camera or current apps on a double-tap, and begin driving mode on a two-finger swipe up.
Different gestures embrace pinch in or out, two-finger rotation (clockwise or anti-clockwise), and extra.
4. Create a New Tab or Folder within the App Drawer
After putting in your apps, the app drawer can get disorganized. If you wish to hold your private home display screen clear or keep away from including extra screens, Nova Prime enables you to create sub-categories within the app drawer to arrange your apps.
- Go to Nova Settings > App drawer and allow Tab bar with its placement both on prime or backside.
- Then, scroll all the way down to the Apps part and faucet on Drawer teams.
- Faucet the Plus (+) button to create a brand new tab.
- Sort in a title and select a tab shade, or let Nova determine primarily based on textual content shade, folder background shade, and wallpaper.
- Faucet on the Extra button subsequent to the tab title, and select Choose Apps so as to add your apps.
- Additionally, uncheck Maintain apps in fundamental app tab to keep away from duplicating the identical apps within the drawer.
In the identical method, you possibly can create a folder within the app drawer. It’s essential to determine beforehand the way you need to categorize the apps. See our information on distinctive methods to arrange your app drawer clear and sorted.
5. Hidden Folder Swipe Gestures
Nova Prime enables you to cover folders behind app icons. You may swipe up on an app to disclose a folder hidden behind it. As soon as enabled, the primary app within the folder turns into the app within the entrance. On this method, you possibly can entry the pool of associated apps shortly and hold the house display screen clear.
- To get began, create a folder and add all of the app icons.
- Press and maintain on the folder and select Edit.
- From the pop-up menu that seems, toggle the Swipe to open folder choice.
- Below the Swipe up part, select First merchandise in folder, and faucet Executed.
6. Create Fast Shortcuts for App Actions
Nova Launcher enables you to arrange a swipe motion for any app icon on the house display screen. You may launch a associated app by swiping up, or allow an app-related shortcut. To do that, press and maintain on an app icon, and faucet on the Edit button.
Below the Swipe motion part, faucet on the arrow to open a display screen with three choices—Nova, Apps, and Shortcuts. As an illustration, swiping up on the Telephone app can launch the Messages app, and swiping down may launch a two-factor authentication app.
No matter choices you select, there are quite a few swipe up and down mixtures, so long as they’re associated to one another. On this method, you possibly can shortly open different apps and declutter your private home display screen.
7. Use Dynamic Notification Badges
Notification badges had been already constructed into the Nova, but it surely required the separate TeslaUnread app, which sadly was buggy and the expertise was inconsistent. Dynamic badges, in distinction, use the notification content material to create a customized badge.
For instance, WhatsApp will present a preview picture of the sender, as lengthy that notification stays within the shade. Dots, launched in Android Oreo, was an important enchancment from the TeslaUnread, but it surely was only a reminder exhibiting that you’ve got a notification for that exact app.
Numeric dots (constructed on prime of the dynamic badge) present you a quantity as a substitute of a dot with a customized expertise. You may tweak the place, dimension, and shade (to match the app icon). Go to Nova Settings > Notification badges and choose Numeric Dots to set it up.
8. Adaptive App Icons
Android has been a wild west in relation to app icons. Compared to iOS, the icons lacked consistency, form, and elegance. With Android Oreo, Google launched adaptive launcher icons to cater to the totally different form varieties that OEM producers like to incorporate of their OS.
Head to Nova Settings, faucet Look and Really feel, after which Icon model. Right here, you possibly can select between spherical icons, rounded squares, squircles, flowers, and extra. Or you can begin with a base form and tweak every nook individually till you create a wholly new form.
Additionally, allow the Reshape legacy icons choice to verify these icons look the identical to a sure extent. If this pursuits you, learn our information on altering the app icon shapes for Android 12.
9. Conceal Apps From the Launcher
In case you have particular apps put in in your cellphone that you just don’t need to present up within the drawer, this characteristic enables you to clear up the app drawer and conceal default OEM apps (those from Samsung and Xiaomi) that you just by no means use. To do that:
- Open Nova Settings and faucet App Drawer.
- Scroll all the way down to the underside of the checklist and faucet Conceal apps.
- Choose the apps you want to cover from the app drawer.
To view your hidden apps, faucet on the app drawer tab on the prime and verify Present Hidden Apps.
Greatest Light-weight Launcher for Android
Launchers are the go-to apps to customise the look and add performance to your cellphone. Though many launchers can be found on the Play Retailer, what makes Nova Launcher Prime highly effective are gestures, dynamic notification badges, a customized app drawer, per-icon swipe options, the flexibility to cover apps, and lots of extra options.
For these explicit causes, Nova Launcher has been my default launcher for a few years. In case you’re in search of another, learn our information on the very best light-weight launchers to spice up the efficiency and look of your Android system.
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