Android: When the Pixel 2 first launched, there was no shortage of unofficial apps designed to brings Google’s best new software to other Android phones. The only issue was that you had to cobble together a bunch of smaller tweaks or root your phone to get the full Pixel 2 experience on older hardware. Now there’s finally a root-free solution that offers all the best features in one package.
The Rootless Pixel Launcher 3.0 is available for any device running Android 5.0 Lollipop and up. Beyond the usual Pixel 2 perks, it also includes some of the enhancements Android modders have come to expect from other launchers, along with a few extra improvements from the app’s creator, Amir Zaidi.
One of the biggest reasons to install the launcher is At a Glance, a special Pixel 2 widget that shows your next calendar event on your home screen at all times right next to the weather. Pressing down on the centre of an app icon will also launch a pop-up menu with shortcuts and notifications. The download even comes with special icon designs, including a calendar icon that changes with the date.
XDA-Developers
If you want to install the Rootless Pixel Launcher 3.0 you’ll have to sideload, since it isn’t available from Google’s Play Store. The first thing you’ll need to do is enable Unknown Sources by heading into Settings on your phone. Then hit Security, select “Lock screen and security”, and toggle on “Unknown sources”.
With that done you can download the new launcher. Then find it in your Android notification tray and tap on the file to install it. Once it’s finished, hit the home button and Android will ask you to pick a new home screen app. Select “Pixel Launcher” and set it to Always.
That’s it. You’re done and you’ve got a shiny new Android launcher to play with. For more info, head to the developer’s announcement on Reddit for a full list of features and a detailed guide for getting started.
Comments
6 responses to “Transform Your Old Android Phone Into A Pixel 2 With This App”
So help me out here, is this just a skin, or a full rom replacement. Because I thought you had to fully root to change the rom? Clearly, I’m not even close to being an expert, but I would like to change the rom on my old Galaxy S5 which is loaded with the US T-Mobile rom.
Yeah this would be just a skin. Or, technically, it’s a launcher ha
There are ways to replace a rom without rooting. But this article has nothing to do with either so best look somewhere else. Good luck!
It’s a launcher, like a skin, works on whatever ROM you have.
Indeed its “just a skin”, and not a rom replacement.
Good roms can be found at forums like xda, and in my experience as also a pretty casual user, its rather simple and easy to flash them on if you follow the instructions. Essentially ive not ever bricked a phone. I remember doing it with my s3, and it made a world of difference. Just make sure you really know your phones model.
Hey,
This is just a launcher, essentially an app that handles the home screen and icons. I guess you could call it a skin.
There are tons of launchers on the Play Store, all super easy to install, with varying degrees of freedom to customise the look and feel.
Mikey Kyle, jezzzaaaa, Alistair Erskine, brownjames112
Thanks guys, much appreciated.
My old phone was a Pixel 2. I installed this app and surely enough, my phone was a Pixel 2 after I installed this. Thanks LifeHacker!