Andy Walker / Android Authority
There’s no shortage of Android launchers for those seeking something beyond the default experience. I’ve tried many in my time, but one firmly stands out for Android enthusiasts: Nova Launcher. I used it for years, through various Android versions and on multiple smartphones. It was revolutionary and opened up a world of customization on Android for thousands of others, including me. But over the weekend, Nova’s founder, Kevin Barry, announced that the app is no longer under active development. Nova Launcher is dead.
Sure, the news is sad and undoubtedly a blow to the app’s vast community and to Android as a whole. However, this announcement has come a little too late for me — Nova has been effectively dead for months, if not years.
What will you do now that Nova Launcher is shutting down? 7092 votes Stick with Nova until it stops working 45 % Switch to another third-party launcher 15 % Just use the stock launcher on my phone 20 % Not sure yet. 11 % I've never used Nova Launcher 10 %
The end was a long time coming; we just didn’t notice
Andy Walker / Android Authority
Several versions ago, I stopped using the launcher as my daily driver, as I grew tired of the overall experience. Newer launchers were also starting to pique my interest, just like Nova did all those years ago. In hindsight, I made the right decision to dip when I did.
Nova Launcher’s development has been steady but certain for years, but something changed in 2022. Perhaps the biggest shockwave, and the move many now see as the beginning of the end, was Nova’s acquisition by Branch. The sentiment surrounding this deal was largely negative, with users primarily worried about their data privacy. “What would an analytics company want with an Android launcher?” many wondered, but I wasn’t overly concerned about the acquisition. Yes, an analytics firm now owned the launcher, but they explained their data usage, and I trusted that my data was safe.
While it’s common for small apps to be shuttered and absorbed into larger companies’ projects, we all hoped that Nova would be an exception. I expected the cash injection would help Nova develop more features for a growing operating system. While I turned to an alternative on my primary phone, I continued using it on test devices to monitor feature improvements. These were few and far between.
Nova's development has been stunted for years, with the last update rolling out in June 2024.
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