Develop Bugs

Getting rid of round icons

I can't stand the round icons that the Pixel forces to appear, often times they're just the app icon in an ugly white circle, especially for third party apps. Is there any way at all to disable them?

CarteNoir said:
I can't stand the round icons that the Pixel forces to appear, often times they're just the app icon in an ugly white circle, especially for third party apps. Is there any way at all to disable them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a framework mod that gives you the old square icons. I'll upload it tonight after work. What security update are you on?

toknitup420 said:
I have a framework mod that gives you the old square icons. I'll upload it tonight after work. What security update are you on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
July! Thanks

Here it is I had one made up for my mod pack. There's a couple of other tweaks in it. Faster led blink rate and no screen on for plug and unplug of usb cable. Clear launcher data after swapping out apk. You'll need root. Use a root file browser. Then reboot. Then clear launcher data and reboot once more. After that you'll be good to go.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4VEhClrJEWpRWlxVUs5TjZDRFE/view?usp=drivesdk

If you try out the Android O beta 4 from Google that just released, it has 4 icon mod display options baked in....
https://www.google.com/android/beta

Try lawnchair launcher. Is the same pixel launcher with added feature. One of them is using ur own icon pack. Also found that using latest beta (which support weather). Is actually SMOOTHER than stock pixel launcher. The developer did some tweaking to eliminate any lag or stutter on scrolling or swiping to google now page.

I've never encountered any lag or stutter on the Pixel while running stock. The phone hardware and kernel have been optimized for performance. Are you running any mods on your phone?

toknitup420 said:
Here it is I had one made up for my mod pack. There's a couple of other tweaks in it. Faster led blink rate and no screen on for plug and unplug of usb cable. Clear launcher data after swapping out apk. You'll need root. Use a root file browser. Then reboot. Then clear launcher data and reboot once more. After that you'll be good to go.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4VEhClrJEWpRWlxVUs5TjZDRFE/view?usp=drivesdk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the option! I actually ended up decompiling the framework-res.apk myself and changing the boolean. I think it's good to learn how myself just so I don't have to wait for someone to make a patch every time an OTA gets pushed, but thank you!
SirSparkles said:
If you try out the Android O beta 4 from Google that just released, it has 4 icon mod display options baked in....
https://www.google.com/android/beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I just didn't wanna go with O due to even worse support for Magisk. Just wanna stay on a stable build for now.
eduardmc said:
Try lawnchair launcher. Is the same pixel launcher with added feature. One of them is using ur own icon pack. Also found that using latest beta (which support weather). Is actually SMOOTHER than stock pixel launcher. The developer did some tweaking to eliminate any lag or stutter on scrolling or swiping to google now page.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip. I use Nova, the problem doesn't necessarily lie with whether or not the launcher supports icon packs. It's more that most icon packs lack support for every single app I have installed, and in that case I want to fall back on the app's default icon. However even if you switch launchers, on the Pixel those icons still get turned into these ugly white circles which is dumb. I have no idea who in Google decided that it was A+ idea to force that on people without leaving in an option to disable it easily. I mean for example I use the Acorn icon pack cause it's pretty af, but it stopped updating about a year ago and doesn't cover many newer apps. I don't wanna stack icon packs when the default icon looks just fine when not in this weird rounded mode that's forced on my phone. It's bizarre that we have to decompile and manually modify a value of a system app just to get rid of a "feature" that's not even slightly polished but is forced on everyone who owns this phone.

eduardmc said:
Try lawnchair launcher. Is the same pixel launcher with added feature. One of them is using ur own icon pack. Also found that using latest beta (which support weather). Is actually SMOOTHER than stock pixel launcher. The developer did some tweaking to eliminate any lag or stutter on scrolling or swiping to google now page.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 million on this. Lawnchair is like pixel launcher on steroids. My favorite launcher ever. Smooth as hell. Google now integration. All the extra options. You can't go wrong.

eduardmc said:
Try lawnchair launcher. Is the same pixel launcher with added feature. One of them is using ur own icon pack. Also found that using latest beta (which support weather). Is actually SMOOTHER than stock pixel launcher. The developer did some tweaking to eliminate any lag or stutter on scrolling or swiping to google now page.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nice! thanks for the suggestion.

CarteNoir said:
Thanks for the option! I actually ended up decompiling the framework-res.apk myself and changing the boolean. I think it's good to learn how myself just so I don't have to wait for someone to make a patch every time an OTA gets pushed, but thank you!
Yeah, I just didn't wanna go with O due to even worse support for Magisk. Just wanna stay on a stable build for now.
Thanks for the tip. I use Nova, the problem doesn't necessarily lie with whether or not the launcher supports icon packs. It's more that most icon packs lack support for every single app I have installed, and in that case I want to fall back on the app's default icon. However even if you switch launchers, on the Pixel those icons still get turned into these ugly white circles which is dumb. I have no idea who in Google decided that it was A+ idea to force that on people without leaving in an option to disable it easily. I mean for example I use the Acorn icon pack cause it's pretty af, but it stopped updating about a year ago and doesn't cover many newer apps. I don't wanna stack icon packs when the default icon looks just fine when not in this weird rounded mode that's forced on my phone. It's bizarre that we have to decompile and manually modify a value of a system app just to get rid of a "feature" that's not even slightly polished but is forced on everyone who owns this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems like Google might have come to the conclusion that forcing round icons on people isn't necessarily a great idea since they added the ability to switch to square icons in Android O.

jhs39 said:
It seems like Google might have come to the conclusion that forcing round icons on people isn't necessarily a great idea since they added the ability to switch to square icons in Android O.
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Click to collapse
Where's that option located?

toknitup420 said:
Where's that option located?
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Click to collapse
long press on a blank area of your launcher, hit settings, and it's there under change icon shape.

fatapia said:
long press on a blank area of your launcher, hit settings, and it's there under change icon shape.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good stuff. I immediately installed lawn chair so I never even looked. Good looks pointing that out.

Can someone reccomend me a launcher?

I am having a really hard time finding a launcher I like, and it seems the only one that gets the closest to what I want comes with Oxygen OS, but thats not avaliable on other ROMs as far as I know. I would like quick pulldown for notifactions anywhere on launcher, pull up on app drawer, again anywhere on launcher and ability to change icon packs, hide apps. I found Lawnchair was pretty good, but it lags a TON.

Nova paid version.

Agreed, Nova Prime is by far the best. It gives you so many options you can make it look and act like anything.
Add some icon pack and you're covered 100%.
Even free version of Nova is quite powerful so it's still a good choice if you're not willing to spend money (you don't get gestures with free version though).
P.S.: it goes on sale every now and then so you can wait a bit to get it cheaper. Holiday season is coming, sales are to be expected.
Sent from my OnePlus 3 using Tapatalk

drmuruga said:
Nova paid version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I own it, used to use it on LG V10. It doesn't have 2 of the things I want though. Quick pull qs pulldown, and app drawer swipe from anywhere on screen, those 2 are huge for me.

lawnchair...stable enough..light and quick.
still in beta on playstore

ZVNexus said:
I am having a really hard time finding a launcher I like, and it seems the only one that gets the closest to what I want comes with Oxygen OS, but thats not avaliable on other ROMs as far as I know. I would like quick pulldown for notifactions anywhere on launcher, pull up on app drawer, again anywhere on launcher and ability to change icon packs, hide apps. I found Lawnchair was pretty good, but it lags a TON.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, Nova Prime, or (as odd as it may seem) the Microsoft Launcher. The thing is free and with some surprising little nifty features like pulling up on the app drawer to reveal some hidden shortcuts for controls like Wi-Fi, bluetooth, flashlight, a tiny bit reminiscent of the iOS Control Center.
You ALSO have the quick pulldown.
I'm amazed myself to be pleased by a Microsoft product, but there it is.
EDIT: If you decide to try it out, make sure to not forget to switch the search engine away from Bing, they're still trying to promote that. -.-

ZVNexus said:
I own it, used to use it on LG V10. It doesn't have 2 of the things I want though. Quick pull qs pulldown, and app drawer swipe from anywhere on screen, those 2 are huge for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi you can get the app drawer swipe from anywhere on screen from below steps.
1. Open nova settings
2. goto Gestures & inputs -> Gestures
3. select Swipe up gesture and assign App drawer to it.
Hit thanks if it worked for you.

nikhiltejagorantla said:
lawnchair...stable enough..light and quick.
still in beta on playstore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only problem with that is that with Oreo ROMs it crashes constantly, besides that love the launcher. Just needs to be more stable.

nikhiltejagorantla said:
lawnchair...stable enough..light and quick.
still in beta on playstore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, great launcher, thanks!

After using nova prime, I don't seem to like any other launcher..

Huawei Launcher

Hey friends,
& Especially for you who are rocking the China version. You brave souls.
I'm curious to hear what you think of Huawei's default launcher? Opinions? Thoughts?

jeradjohnso said:
Hey friends,
& Especially for you who are rocking the China version. You brave souls.
I'm curious to hear what you think of Huawei's default launcher? Opinions? Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using Mate 10 pro right now and I've bought Nova a couple of years ago. Nova is the best launcher for me, but huawei luncher is not bad either. I've used it for a year now heavy modified and westernised. I'll publish my review after I get the Mate 20 x next week.

Neato. I used Nova since I got my Mate 9, but it sounds like only the Default will work on the new Chinese versions.
Are you getting the China version?

It's very functional, but relatively slow and laggy - that's my experience on both the P20 Pro and Honor Note 8.
The HN8 is my main phone. I'm using Trebuchet at the moment, which is immensely smoother and faster.
There shouldn't be a problem using 3rd party launchers after 9.12x.xxx updates, but currently you'll have to go the adb method of removing Huawei Home to force the OS to choose your already installed preference, as Huawei had removed the option to select another launcher as default after complaints about malware etc - after an outcry it's now going to be reverted.

jeradjohnso said:
Neato. I used Nova since I got my Mate 9, but it sounds like only the Default will work on the new Chinese versions.
Are you getting the China version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but I haven't plan to use any other launcher than stock anyway. It has its advantages and it is more customizable than one might think.

mudnightoil said:
It's very functional, but relatively slow and laggy - that's my experience on both the P20 Pro and Honor Note 8.
The HN8 is my main phone. I'm using Trebuchet at the moment, which is immensely smoother and faster.
There shouldn't be a problem using 3rd party launchers after 9.12x.xxx updates, but currently you'll have to go the adb method of removing Huawei Home to force the OS to choose your already installed preference, as Huawei had removed the option to select another launcher as default after complaints about malware etc - after an outcry it's now going to be reverted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh. :fingers-crossed:

The Huawei Mate 20x launcher is A-OK. It is not laggy or problematic. If you want to use a third party launcher prior to the Huawei home manager fix, use Twisted Home Manager and gestures only for navigation in both the launcher and phone.

The Twisted Home Manager works.

tzdu25 said:
The Twisted Home Manager works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the chinese Mate 20 x?

Yes, I have the Chinese Version.

Wicked. That's so awesome. Thank you!

tzdu25 said:
The Twisted Home Manager works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dosn't work for me. Or I don't know how to use it.
The instant I touch over Nova Launcher it opens de app, but doesn't change the default launcher.
Can you tel me how did you changed the default launcher?
Thanks a lot!

RedCriwx said:
Dosn't work for me. Or I don't know how to use it.
The instant I touch over Nova Launcher it opens de app, but doesn't change the default launcher.
Can you tel me how did you changed the default launcher?
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They all say use wicked launcher and stuff but what they really mean is just go click nova launcher and it will launch but don't hit the home button or anything. You can only use gestures.. Which honestly to me isn't replacing the launcher when only doing setting the default launcher to me is "replacing the launcher"

RedCriwx said:
Dosn't work for me. Or I don't know how to use it.
The instant I touch over Nova Launcher it opens de app, but doesn't change the default launcher.
Can you tel me how did you changed the default launcher?
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't work for me either. Have gestures only setup but any swipe to get the multi tasking view always reverts it back to the stock launcher.

g_woodend said:
Doesn't work for me either. Have gestures only setup but any swipe to get the multi tasking view always reverts it back to the stock launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did work for me was deleting the Huawei Home using adb:
adb shell
pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.huawei.android.launcher
After that, the system used the other launcher available (Nova in my case).
The only downside is that the swipe up for home using gesture navigation doesn't work anymore. The nav bar though, works perfectly. It bothers me because on the Honor note 10, with previous EMUI, you could change the launcher and the gesture still worked.
Thanks to mudnightoil who pointed this out before in this same thread.

RedCriwx said:
What did work for me was deleting the Huawei Home using adb:
adb shell
pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.huawei.android.launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it. From typical computer window. While phone is up and running and after saying allow for the ADB connection on the phone. My hold up was changing USB from Charging to MTP and resetting/checking that USB is really set on.
Now I wish I could kill the repeated "remove the malicious (all non-China) apps prompt.

I like the standard launcher. Just wish the would fix it so the home screen would landscape like my M10 Pro does

I saw someone reported the default launcher could be staggerring, though I would like to share my input.
I have been using Samsung phone from Galaxy S5 and I have been turned the animations off in the Developers mode. I didn't see the difference turning them off nor the need of keeping them up. If you were willing to try without the animations for a few days, you probably will like it that way.

where is developers mode I can't enable it

stestesteste said:
where is developers mode I can't enable it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same as in many, go to about phone and tap on the build 5 times. It shows up under abnout phone, but under ther bottom advanced drop down menu. (I don't know why it seems the most useful items are under the last entry on menus with a "v" indicator). It is often easier to just search from the top of settings.

Nova Launcher - Icons default to AI when closing down apps

Hello,
I am new to Android and I have recently installed Nova on my Note 10 and got it looking exactly how i want it but when i go to quick switch or close my apps the Icons on the top are the old ones that i was running on Samsungs AI, Is their anyway to change this in the settings or is this just how Samsung cover it so you can fully use Nova?
The Icons appear on my Home Screen and App Drawer but when i select the home button to swipe between open apps the top app icon is my old one from when i was on samsungs AI instead of nova.
I am running Android 9 and Nova Prime 6.1.11
Any help would be brilliant.

Have you chosen Nova to be your default launcher? Not sure what else would be causing your icon pack to not stick.
Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk

Hi,
I have defaulted it in the Nova Launcher and in the Settings but it sticks for the home screen and the App Draw but not if your flicking between open apps or in the Apps section in settings, I wonder if anyone who has a 10 is having this issue as well with Nova Launcher?
tatootie67 said:
Have you chosen Nova to be your default launcher? Not sure what else would be causing your icon pack to not stick.
Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Pilly88 said:
Hello,
I am new to Android and I have recently installed Nova on my Note 10 and got it looking exactly how i want it but when i go to quick switch or close my apps the Icons on the top are the old ones that i was running on Samsungs AI, Is their anyway to change this in the settings or is this just how Samsung cover it so you can fully use Nova?
The Icons appear on my Home Screen and App Drawer but when i select the home button to swipe between open apps the top app icon is my old one from when i was on samsungs AI instead of nova.
I am running Android 9 and Nova Prime 6.1.11
Any help would be brilliant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As additional info on this as I've tried to help in person but run out of ideas...
We've double checked that Nova is definitely set as the default launcher - issue persists
We've tried clearing Nova's app cache - issue persists
We've tried uninstalling and reinstalling Nova - issue persists
We've tried clearing partition cache - issue persists
It's a bit confusing as on the surface Nova seems to be doing it's job, but when going in to the apps part of the settings menu all of the default Samsung theme icons are there instead of the ones set in Nova (not the case on the other Android phones running Nova that we have access to, which keep the icon pack loaded in to Nova through the entire system). Then trying to switch between apps seems to reset the whole thing to the default Samsung theme.
---------- Post added at 08:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:09 AM ----------
Update: We think it's a Samsung problem!
Tried Apex and Smart Launcher 5, both having the exact same issue. At this point I'm inclined to think it's actually an issue with something in how the new Samsung Note 10+ works with launchers.
Anyone else got this working properly? What launcher have you used?

I think it is how the system is designed . maybe with android 10 that will change

Fingers Crossed It will, Thank you.
raul6 said:
I think it is how the system is designed . maybe with android 10 that will change
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

first thing I did upon receiving my exynos note10 plus was to install nova, prime version, and download the icon packs of my choice, and, as always, zero problems, any customization I set, sticks no matter what, so, The issue has nothing to do with samsug or ultimately with Pie

Maybe it's a Note 10 thing, have you tried a device reset?
No problems with Nova on my Exynos Note 10 plus 5G, as on all devices in my house, S9, Note 8, Note 9, the first customisation is Nova Prime.
Maybe someone with Note 10 could chime in.

Have you tried going into the settings of Nova launcher, selecting look and feel, select icon style, select icon theme. And then toggle between the marshmallow default, the system, and the icon pack you use. I use the icons from a Samsung icon theme pack. And have to do this. But it works Everytime.

Nova Launcher

As much as I want to use Nova Launcher, it's just not as smooth and quick as the stock Pixel Launcher. Anyone else feel this way? At the same time, I have a love/hate relationship with Pixel Launcher because I love having the icon unread notification numbers on Nova as well as being able to change the home screen grid size. In the end, though, Nova is just not as quick loading apps and the app drawer.

I agree Google isn't making it easy to use another launcher on Pixel phones. It's a shame.
Nova is definitely not as smooth as the Pixel launcher. But Nova has so many advantages for me that I'll take its options over overall smoothness any day.

Ghisy said:
I agree Google isn't making it easy to use another launcher on Pixel phones. It's a shame.
Nova is definitely not as smooth as the Pixel launcher. But Nova has so many advantages for me that I'll take its options over overall smoothness any day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here.

U guys can use one plus launcher, one UI launcher and a custom pixel launcher as well with More customizations. There's a thread on telegram.

Action Launcher does pretty much everything Nova can do and it does everything stock pixel launcher does too. Including copying from recents screen and using Android 10 gestures.
Launchers can add the ability to work correctly on Pixels, Google opened up the ability for 3rd party launchers in December, Action Launcher is only one I know of that can do it without using quickstep or magisk.

smartymcfly said:
Action Launcher does pretty much everything Nova can do and it does everything stock pixel launcher does too. Including copying from recents screen and using Android 10 gestures.
Launchers can add the ability to work correctly on Pixels, Google opened up the ability for 3rd party launchers in December, Action Launcher is only one I know of that can do it without using quickstep.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ones I'm referring to don't require quickstep either, just flash in magisk

shooterlgk said:
The ones I'm referring to don't require quickstep either, just flash in magisk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Action Launcher doesn't require magisk.

smartymcfly said:
Action Launcher doesn't require magisk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fully aware, just providing more options

I keep seeing these threads where at least one person claims Nova doesn't work correctly. Last year, I would have agreed... but I've been using Nova for months and I have forgotten about any drawbacks if there are any. The only differences I remember are a couple animations and the recents menu doesn't have suggestion icons? (which never suggested apps I wanted to use, so I don't miss it)
What's the smoothness that people are complaining about? The animations run as fast as my finger pushes things around... Is it just the quality and type of animations? If so, I want functionality far over such things. Having to use substratum/magisk to customize the Pixel Launcher was way worse than recreating my layout in Nova. If only things like TeslaUnread were still officially supported... but Google likes killing off useful things.
Feel free to help me understand what I'm missing.

jljtgr said:
I keep seeing these threads where at least one person claims Nova doesn't work correctly. Last year, I would have agreed... but I've been using Nova for months and I have forgotten about any drawbacks if there are any. The only differences I remember are a couple animations and the recents menu doesn't have suggestion icons? (which never suggested apps I wanted to use, so I don't miss it)
What's the smoothness that people are complaining about? The animations run as fast as my finger pushes things around... Is it just the quality and type of animations? If so, I want functionality far over such things. Having to use substratum/magisk to customize the Pixel Launcher was way worse than recreating my layout in Nova. If only things like TeslaUnread were still officially supported... but Google likes killing off useful things.
Feel free to help me understand what I'm missing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nova says in the settings that Google has not made it possible for Nova to use Android 10 gestures correctly. Google has made it work, but Nova hasn't been updated to allow it yet.

smartymcfly said:
Nova says in the settings that Google has not made it possible for Nova to use Android 10 gestures correctly. Google has made it work, but Nova hasn't been updated to allow it yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my opinion, the warning is wrong. Back when I first got my phone, like half of the gestures didn't quite work. Now everything works for me.
At Nova's homescreen...
Swipe from side: Isn't triggered because you can't go back from home. Just flips pages.
Swipe from bottom: Opens app search. I'm not sure if the gesture is doing this or Nova is.
Swipe from bottom & hold: Opens recents.
Swipe from corner: Shows assistant overlay.
Everything basic works. I don't have palm swipe screenshots enabled.

My issue with Nova is the delay going back to the home screen. I can't immediately open another app. I always have to wait an extra second or click on app twice before it opens. I want the full pixel experience and it seems that Nova doesn't always deliver on it. I do occasionally go back to it until I get annoyed with my first statement.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

Honestly, I've never noticed this. I guess I go home before I know what I want to click on and so I'm never quick enough to see it.
The way it's acting, it reminds me of a paused activity that needs to refresh when the app gets restored. I tried to disable battery optimization for Nova, but it didn't help. I'm not sure how to solve that.
I tried the same test on my old phone and pressing the home button actually does nothing for a split second, then Nova shows and responds immediately. But when you gesture, you want it to happen immediately... not a split second later. So in that way, Android 10 and Nova do the sensible thing and shows the paused activity.

shooterlgk said:
U guys can use one plus launcher, one UI launcher and a custom pixel launcher as well with More customizations. There's a thread on telegram.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you provide a link please?

I was using Nova Launche a lot of time ago! let's going to check how does it works now!

I have no reason to use any other launcher than pixel launcher. It works just as I need.

not sure what the hoo-blah is. I have been using Nova prime beta with no issues. No problems returning home... No speed issues. The warning that is in there is talking about the gesture navigation system wide not inside the launcher. So this means you have to use the classic 3 button method to navigate (back, home, recent). IMHO this does not affect the experience at all. Definitely prefer Nova and the customization over the stock launcher. :good:
Edit:Actually just changed the nav settings and Nova is working with new gestures.

ksmullins88 said:
not sure what the hoo-blah is. I have been using Nova prime beta with no issues. No problems returning home... No speed issues. The warning that is in there is talking about the gesture navigation system wide not inside the launcher. So this means you have to use the classic 3 button method to navigate (back, home, recent). IMHO this does not affect the experience at all. Definitely prefer Nova and the customization over the stock launcher. :good:
Edit:Actually just changed the nav settings and Nova is working with new gestures.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just switched back to Nova from Lawnchair on both my S20+ and Pixel 4XL. Nova works beautiful now and Nova Google Companion works with dark mode.

I'm on Android 11 Beta and am running Nova with no problems with gestures at all. For some reason on 10 they were not working as smooth and I would get some lag going back to the home screen. On 11, those problems have seemed to disappear.

While that's true, the closing app animation is not there and feels weird. ( Using gesture navigation )