Rootless Pixel Launcher for Any Android Device

Have that Google Pixel Style on Any Android Device – It is now possible to have the coolness of Google Pixel device by using the ported version of its launcher. Previously, it required either several steps and workarounds to have its launcher through third-party apps like Nova Launcher. Thanks to Amir Zaidi, the developer behind Rootless Pixel Launcher (RPL). He has managed to port the original one taken from Google Device and makes it compatible for any Android device. He ported it over features to the stock AOSP 8.1 launcher, the Launcher3.

We have also seen similar ported apps out there which require a rooted device. This one, however, offers similar awesomeness on either rooted or non-rooted device. The RPL offers all coolness and goodness available within the original launcher of Google Pixel 2 including its features such as Google Search bar, Substratum OEM theming, AMOLED friendly, App Drawer, Dark Mode, additionally, of course, the looks and feel of Google Pixel. The best part, this app requires no root and can be installed on the most recent version of Android OS including 5.x Lollipop, 6.x Marshmallow, 7.x Nougat, and 8.x Oreo.

Check also: All Versions of Magisk Systemless Root.

Key Features

Lollipop

• The new Google Now feed is available to the left of the home screen, without needing root access.
• The theme changes based on the wallpaper in use. Dark wallpapers will trigger the dark theme, otherwise, it uses the default theme.
• At the top of the first home screen page, there is a Smartspace widget with events, weather, and the date, all in the Google Sans font.
• The new search bar is at the bottom of the home screen and the top of the app drawer. Google Calendar’s icon changes with the date.
• The exact same screen size profiles from the Pixel 2 Launcher are included. The same grid sizes and icon sizes.
• Google Wallpapers and Voice Search are hidden from the app drawer.

Custom

• Probably the most requested feature in the history of mankind’s development, icon packs are included in the settings app. Just a simple selection list where you can select from the list of packs installed on your phone.
• There are app suggestions based on the number of drawer clicks at the top of the app drawer. These are not the same as the real Pixel Launcher. I will explain why in the FAQ. Round app icons from Android 7.1 are used when available.
• Calendar icons change with the date if the icon pack you use supports it.
• All icon packs are hidden from the app drawer when an icon pack is being used.
• Google Now Launcher is hidden from the app drawer.
• There is a custom screen size profile with a 6×6 grid when the DPI is low. This automatically kicks in on tablets or large phones. If you want to enable this, your DPI needs to be 370 or less (on a 1920×1080 device). This equals a 467dp smallest width, for those on Nougat.
• You can open and close notifications from anywhere on the home screen by swiping up and down.
• New releases can be found in the settings app when clicking About -> Version.
• Notification/shortcut popups are centered on the screen with a nice animation when positioning it on the left or right would make it go out of the screen.
• When the popup still goes out of the screen in landscape, the popup arrow is hidden.
• When pressing the search bar without the Google App available on your phone, the browser opens google.com. This makes it useful for MicroG or Pico GApps users on custom ROMs, instead of being a waste of space.
• Themes are hardcoded to look like the Pixel, for compatibility across OEMs.
• The list of all apps gets automatically resized when you start searching, so you can scroll to the bottom.
• For devices without software navigation bar, there is padding under the search widget on the home screen.

Marshmallow

• There are notification dots in the color of the app’s icon.
• You can view and interact with notifications in the long press popup on apps.
• The settings menu uses the Oreo style and colors.

Nougat

• A light theme is applied when the wallpaper is light enough. This has a dark status bar, navigation bar, and text.

Nougat 7.1

• When long pressing an app there will be shortcuts in the popup.

Oreo

• There are settings for adding icons to the home screen when installing and changing the icon shape for adaptive icons.
• Google Clock shows the current time and changes in real time.
• The Google Now feed uses the same theme as the launcher.

Custom

• Adaptive icons are disabled for pre-Oreo apps, so you do not get boxes in boxes.
• Notched display supported – since v3.6.

Download

You can download this free cool launcher app from its original link on Github here. Alternatively, you may grab it from mirror direct links below. The files are hosted on our servers which support resume-able and multiple download connections.

How to install?

You can install this ported launcher app without root. Simply grab the apk file from the link above and install it as what you usually would. It’s just installation from third-party source. You may need to enable that feature on the Settings area depending on which version of Android OS you are.

Note: The real Google Pixel users need a rooted device with Magisk module to be able to use this app. That’s kinda funny but it is.

via Reddit.