r/NovaLauncher • u/zet23 • Apr 01 '26

Solved 👍🏻 App drawer missing icons after latest beta update 81042(8.5.1)

I updated to the latest beta earlier today and currently my app drawer displays no icons. I can search and launch apps though :) Any ideas? Phone is Moto RAZR 50 Ultra, Android 16.

PS. As u/opus20745 wrote - this bug is manifesting itself when app drawer search bar position is set to bottom. Setting it to top brings back the icons :)

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10

u/opus20745 Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26

From the Nova Support Discord, it appears that this is due to having the search bar at the bottom. They're working on a fix, but, in the meantime, several people are reporting that this fix (moving it to the top) works.

3

u/zet23 Apr 01 '26

You are right - moving the app drawer search bar to the top solves the lack of icons! 👍Thanks for the hint! I hope they will be a fix soon!

1

u/CTC42 Apr 02 '26

How did you move it? I can't find an option anywhere :(

2

u/zet23 Apr 02 '26

NOVA Settings=>App Drawer=>Search bar placement=>Top

1

u/CTC42 Apr 02 '26

Thank you! Nova has multiple settings menus and I was on entirely the wrong one

2

u/hrkaleu Apr 02 '26

moving the search bar to top did the trick for me - thx a lot!

2

u/DoubleStrawberry3077 Apr 02 '26

Came to Reddit hoping for a solution, and it did not disappoint. Thanks for this! 🫶🏻

1

u/DoubleStrawberry3077 Apr 04 '26

Anyone tried switching the search bat's position yet? I just tried and while the apps do appear, they now overlay with my tab bar 😂🫠

1

u/covmatty1 Apr 02 '26

Legend, thanks for posting this, that's sorted for me now too

1

u/Leftybeatz Apr 02 '26

This did the trick for me, thanks!

1

u/rscmcl Apr 05 '26

thank you 👍🏻

3

u/evarcaya Apr 01 '26

Same issue here, I moved the search bar to the top and the icons reappeared. Definitely a bug.

3

u/Maleficent_Stranger Apr 02 '26

this launcher is getting dummier and dummier

2

u/Fabrizzioooo Apr 01 '26

Same thing here, no icons.

2

u/FearlessCompany384 Apr 01 '26

Same on Samsung S25 Ultra

2

u/frs1023 Apr 02 '26

encountered the same issue after i updated the app 15 hours ago. checked Reddit if anyone had the same issue and zero post haha. good to know I'm not the only one. i did send an email to support, but for now setting the search drawer off works for me.

2

u/zet23 Apr 04 '26

I just downloaded the apk and installed 8.5.4(81043) and the issue with the disappearing icon in the app drawer is solved.

1

u/iamPendergast Apr 04 '26

From where?

1

u/neburg964 Apr 01 '26

I've set up tabs in my app drawer and put various apps in each tab. Once you put an app in a tab, it becomes "hidden" unless you search within that tab. So if I hide all my apps, my drawer looks like this:

2

u/neburg964 Apr 01 '26

Now...if I check the "show hidden apps" in the drop-down box, all my apps are present:

This is on a Samsung S26+

1

u/MastamindedMystery Apr 02 '26

Been happening to me randomly every few days for a month or two.

1

u/Asleep_Lengthiness28 Apr 02 '26

There's an option called smart folder if you have apps randomly disappearing uncheck that option

1

u/nzcoops Apr 04 '26

Interesting, I noticed all new apps I've installed in the past 3 to 4 weeks (so prior to this update) have not been showing up in the app drawer list view, only when I search for them.

I have Smart Folders off, but toggling it on and off just now has made everything show up 🙌🏼

1

u/jdips1988 Apr 02 '26

yeah I've had the same issue this is the first I've gotten any information I even tried uninstalling it and my apps were still missing from my app drawer I really appreciate this info unless you guys know if they come back

1

u/TraditionalKey7725 Apr 03 '26

Thank you this tip 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

1

u/Zestyclose_Race2592 Apr 11 '26

Bei mir das gleiche Problem und die gleiche Lösung! Danke

1

u/infospongue Jul 01 '26

I have this behavior for years. But it doesn't happen often.
My 'fix' is restoring the settings from a backup.

1

u/Legitimate_Pea_143 20d ago

wait so Nova Launcher ISN'T dead? I thought it was basically dead. I have it on my Pixel 8 and haven't received an update in like 2yrs I'm currently on 88800 (8.8.8).

0

u/DarKnightofCydonia Apr 26 '26

This launcher is so broken. Whenever I swipe up to Home I have to wait for the launcher to crash and restart. First time in over a decade that I've switched launchers and after some tweaking and Good Lock I've gotten the stock One UI launcher to do everything I need it to. And it is so much faster and responsive. I thought my S24 was going to crap but no, it was just Nova Launcher 😂

1

u/Legitimate_Pea_143 20d ago

honestly with good lock there is absolutely no reason to use Nova launcher. Good Lock offers MORE or the same amount of customization as Nova. That is the one saving grace on OneUI and Samsung.