The search large Google has simply launched their newest smartphones for 2017; the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. I’ve been a fan of Pixel gadgets since they debuted final yr, as they delivered the very best, unadulterated Android expertise. For me, the Pixel gadgets are as a lot concerning the software program expertise as they’re concerning the {hardware}. I particularly love what Google does with its Pixel Launcher, making Android much more straightforward and intuitive to make use of. With Pixel 2, the beloved Pixel Launcher is getting a serious overhaul making it higher than ever earlier than. Nonetheless, since Pixel telephones are premium merchandise, not many people can afford to purchase one. That’s why it’s unhappy that so many Android customers gained’t be capable of expertise the brand new Pixel Launcher. Properly, that’s not fully true. You won’t get the unique Pixel Launcher, however you possibly can customise your Android cellphone to look and behave like one. On this article, we’re going to present you, how you are able to do the identical. So, in case you ever thought, how can I get this new Pixel 2 Launcher, that is how one can:
Notice: I’m utilizing my Nexus 5X for this tutorial. Nonetheless, this methodology will work on any system working on Android. That being stated, in case your system doesn’t help on-screen navigation buttons, clearly, they gained’t present up on the show.
Get Pixel 2 Launcher on Any Android Machine
When you’ve got ever adopted our web site prior to now, you will need to know that we love Nova Launcher. Nova Launcher provides a ton of performance and is at all times the primary one to port options from newer variations of Android to older gadgets. Along with porting these options, the Launcher additionally permits you to customise each side of its feel and look. At this time, we’re going to use Nova Launcher to point out you, how one can customise your house display to look and behave identical to the Pixel 2 Launcher. This one goes to be a little bit longer than our traditional how-tos, so comply with alongside step-by-step to get the brand new Pixel 2 Launcher.
1. Step one as you may need guessed is to put in the Nova Launcher. In case you are already utilizing it, nice, if not, obtain the Launcher by clicking on this hyperlink. You may get many of the performance through the use of the free model of the Nova Launcher, nevertheless, a number of the customisation would require the paid model. I’ll point out the customisations that are restricted to the paid variations individually with the intention to simply resolve in order for you them or not.
2. Now launch the app, and comply with the steps talked about within the app to arrange the Launcher. Don’t learn an excessive amount of into it, as we’re going to customise it later. So, simply preserve tapping subsequent until your Launcher is set-up. Additionally, be certain to make it your default Launcher when your smartphone asks.
3. Now, simply to be sure that everyone seems to be on the identical web page, we are going to clear every thing from the house display, so all of us have a clear slate to start with. Simply lengthy press on the icons and take away them by one-by-one, until there’s nothing left on your house display.
4. Now, let’s go into the “Nova settings” and make the required adjustments. First, long-press on the house display and faucet on “Settings”. Right here is the place we are going to make all of the adjustments.
5. First, we are going to be sure that we’ve got the identical “swipe as much as open the app drawer gesture” as it’s on Pixel 2 Launcher. To try this, faucet on “App & widget drawers” after which allow “Swipe to open” and disable the “Swipe indicator”. Now, return to the primary menu.
6. As you will need to have seen, there aren’t any “app labels” on the house display of Pixel 2 Launcher. To realize the clear look and take away the app labels, simply faucet on “Desktop” after which choose “Icon format”. Right here, disable the “Label” choice. Now your icon gained’t have a label on the house display.
7. If you are within the Desktop settings, we will even make a number of extra adjustments. First, we are going to alter the peak and width padding. Faucet on “Top Padding” after which choose the “Medium” choice. Do the identical for the “Width Padding” too. This can be sure that all of your icons and the widget (which we’re going to placed on the house display) will align appropriately and mimic the look of the Pixel 2 Launcher.
8. We have to make yet one more change whereas we’re within the Desktop settings, scroll down to search out “Web page indicator”, faucet on it, after which choose “None”.
9. Now, return from Desktop to the primary settings menu. Right here, faucet on “Dock”. Choose “Dock Background” after which set the “Transparency” to a 100%.
10. That’s it, we’re just about completed with the Settings. Now return to the house display and lengthy press on it. Right here, choose widgets after which discover “Fast Search Bar” widget underneath the Nova Launcher and add it to your house display.
11. Simply lengthy press on the widget and choose the “Resize” choice. Now, resize the widget to match the width of your display.
12. Once more, lengthy press on the widget however this time, choose the “Edit” choice. Right here, underneath “bar Fashion” choose the primary choice. Now scroll down to search out “Brand Fashion” and choose the coloured “G” icon. Additionally, if you are right here allow “Search as overlay”. This will provide you with that clean animation impact which you get on the Pixel 2 Launcher.
13. Now simply return and drag the widget to the underside of the show. Now, add your favorite app icons above the widget to make your house display your personal. Additionally, obtain the Pixel 2 wallpaper and set it as your default wallpaper to offer your house display an genuine Pixel 2 look.
14. There may be yet one more factor left to do. we want so as to add that cool “At a look widget” which exhibits you your calendar occasions, together with different data reminiscent of time and climate. To try this, first, obtain the “Enterprise Calendar 2” software from the Play Retailer. Now, launch the app and shortly undergo its setup course of by simply granting it required permissions and tapping on the subsequent arrow.
15. Now, on your house display, lengthy press to pick the widget choice and add the Enterprise calendar 2 widget on your house display. Now, identical to we did with the Google search widget first lengthy press on it to resize it to suit the width of the display. As soon as you’re completed resizing, click on on the gear icon on the high proper of your widget.
16. Right here, faucet on the “Colours” menu after which set the opacity to 0%. Then hit on save. The widget gained’t look precisely the identical because the one on new Pixel telephones, however it is extremely near it. Furthermore, it serves the perform correctly, as you possibly can see within the footage beneath.
As you possibly can see, my nexus 5X appears like as if it’s working the brand new Pixel 2 Launcher. Nonetheless, the above steps simply match the appears of the Pixel 2 Launcher. Other than a change in aesthetics, since Pixel 2 Launcher relies on Android Oreo, it additionally brings much more functionalities. The “Notification Dots” are one such outstanding function. If you wish to carry these options to your system, you are able to do that too, however you will want the paid model of the Nova Launcher. We’ve already lined Notification Dot function in a earlier article, and you’ll learn to allow that by clicking right here. Additionally, if you wish to carry the improved search performance of Pixel 2 Launcher to your cellphone, you possibly can click on right here to learn to try this. Only for a comparability of our launcher with the Pixel Launcher, I’ve added an image which exhibits each of them facet by facet.
SEE ALSO: Google Pixel 2 FAQ: All the things You Have to Know
Get Pixel 2 Look on Your Android Machine
The above footage evaluate each the unique Pixel 2 Launcher and the one we created utilizing the Nova Launcher. You could find some minor variations, however roughly the look stays the identical. The method is a bit prolonged, nevertheless it’s completely price it. Strive it out and tell us, the way it labored out for you. Additionally, If you happen to really feel that the article is lacking any Pixel 2 Launcher options, do tell us and we are going to embody the options in a future replace. Lastly, I might like to know your ideas about the entire “Made by Google” occasion. Did you find it irresistible, hate it? Drop down all of your ideas within the feedback part beneath.