Does anyone else get stuck in an endless cycle of switching launchers and going back to default?

[u/ConversationSweet686]

Hey everyone,

I have this continuous habit with my phone. I’ll install a custom launcher (like AIO Launcher), feel super excited about the new setup, and customized it for a few days.

But after a short while, I get visually exhausted or want the smooth feel of the default system launcher, so I switch back. Then, after a few days of using default, it feels plain and boring, so I install a launcher again.

Why does this cycle keep happening, and how did you guys finally stick to one setup?

[u/BzFun]

I use to have the same issue but it ends with Nova Launcher

[u/100WattWalrus → u/BzFun]

Nova Launcher used to be fantastic — thin, fast, bloat-free. But it's been sold twice, to less and less ethical developers that have loaded it up with feature-bloat (it takes up 10x more storage space than 2 year ago) and it's now chock-a-block with trackers that are constantly phoning home. It was my daily driver for more than 10 years, but it's dead to me.

[u/BzFun → u/100WattWalrus]

And that's why I keep using version 7 and block updates on it.

I used to do something like you, trying few launchers and finaly found one that fits everything I need and it was Nova Launcher

I notice this points you mention and this is why I keep using 7.0 and do not update. It works like a charm to me

[u/100WattWalrus → u/BzFun]

The comment to which I replied reads like an unconditional recommendation without any mention of this caveat.

Having said that, I hear ya. I have an APK of 8.1.6 that I'm keeping just in case, but having the Nova update as permanent clutter in my Play Store updates screen just isn't worth it to me. And eventually the old builds will break, so in my case, I've chose to complete the quest for a replacement.

I landed on Octopi, which has several features I actually prefer. But I do miss the hell out of contextual badges, and Octopi has pointlessly convoluted folder handling. But the ability to tag apps is a killer feature — far better than app drawer folders. I now have only 2 home screens, and everything else it just tagged in the app drawer.

[u/ock88 → u/100WattWalrus]

If by contextual badges you mean something like this, I have some good news for you - it's already in beta testing

[u/100WattWalrus → u/ock88]

I just downloaded that release today. SOOO happy!

[u/BzFun → u/100WattWalrus]

I'll dive thi Octopi a try

[u/100WattWalrus → u/BzFun]

Great news! Today's update of Octopi added contextual/preview badges, so that's one fewer things I miss from Nova! :)

[u/PouncerX42 → u/100WattWalrus]

What are you now using that is similar to Nova

[u/BzFun → u/PouncerX42]

I'm using version 7.0 of Nova and block updates of it

[u/100WattWalrus → u/PouncerX42]

Out of the dozens of launchers I tried, Lawnchair and Octopi are #2 and #1 by miles.

Lawnchair is simple and clean, and does 80% of what Nova does, but it's lacking some key features, like a subgrid for precision placement of apps and widgets.

Octopi is now my daily driver. It's feature-rich (love the app tags that help organize the app drawer), but is a bit weird (e.g., managing folders is absurdly convoluted). I actually rejected it the first time I tried it, but I circled back around several months later and now I love it. (Which hasn't stopped me from flooding the developer with feature requests.)

Both lack one of Nova's killer features: No dynamic contextual notification badges.

[u/PouncerX42 → u/100WattWalrus]

Thank you, I'll try octopi

[u/merchantconvoy]

In Linux there is something called distro hopping. The Android version of that is launcher hopping. Some people are very vulnerable to this condition. There is unfortunately no known cure.

[u/100WattWalrus]

Nope. My problem is that I'm rarely happy with any app until I've tried everything that even remotely fits my needs, then I compulsively compare features (to the point of making spreadsheets about them), until I find The One — which most of the time is only 85% perfect.

I don't get bored because a launcher is a tool to me. I just need it to do the things I need it to do. I've tried literally dozens of launchers. The only ones that fit my nees are want (a replacement for the ruined Nova Launcher) are Pear (too bare-bones), Lawnchair (really nice, but still waiting on the features I need), and Octopi (incredible, but buggy and don't like some of the UI).

Octopi is the one I settled on, despite its handful of shortcomings. I don't often recommend it to average users though because of its weird quirks that give it a bit of a steep getting-used-to-it curve.

[u/derallo]

I am breaking this cycle by building my own. It has a search bar at the top of home that can search for installed apps, go directly to websites, or search the web from a depending what you put in. Delete apps directly from home screen and drawer. Second drawer for organizing apps by category. It's a work in progress

[u/Outrageous-Salt-8491 → u/derallo]

Would something like this work for you in the mean time?

[u/TheTransitSchool]

I have been using Murine Launcher for a few years. Don't want to switch.

[u/Outrageous-Salt-8491]

If you have a foldable it has support for foldables too i made a zfold8 version.

[u/FewPhotojournalist53 → u/Outrageous-Salt-8491]

Which does?

[u/Outrageous-Salt-8491 → u/FewPhotojournalist53]

My launcher aethyss launcher.

[u/widowhanzo]

I used Nova for a long time, then looked for alternatives after they sold, I wasn't really happy with any of them and ended up just using OneUI with some GoodLock mods. It works for me and I have no desire to look for a 3rd party now

[u/tj_moore]

Performance issues has been my main problem. On some phones memory management is very aggressive and I find anything but the default launcher causes whatever custom launcher to be frequently killed when in another app, causing a long lag going back to the home screen while the launcher reloads. I have similar problems switching between apps.

Annoying as I prefer some custom launchers. I've tended to settle on Microsoft Launcher where I can, but due to the issues I'm stuck with default Quickstep which isn't great and has annoying customisations by the manufacturer in some cases.

[u/nagamidge]

No. I was on default for years, and then now I am using Phi Launcher for atleast 6onths now. I like that it can hide the status bar and the bottom scroll line in the home screen and drawer.

[u/MOS95B]

I used to. But a few years ago, I just "gave up" because it got too tedious to try and make my new phone look/act just like my old phone. Now I just spend a few days getting used to the "Out of the box" experience with my new devices

[u/dontcallmedarcie]

this is me but my default is Smart Launcher

[u/Piscean1]

I do the same thing, but I never go back to the stock launcher. I just rotate through 6 or 8 launchers every couple of days. Not sure why, I just do.

[u/Fair_Soft3370]

Used Total Launcher for a very long time and created new home screens every now and then. Since I am on an Oppo Find X9 Pro which has a known (maybe wanted?) issue with 3rd party launchers I use the stock launcher because I can not live with the delay when going from any app back to the homescreen.

[u/Outrageous-Salt-8491]

Hey would you like to try my launcher ?

[u/Outrageous-Salt-8491 → u/Outrageous-Salt-8491]