One of Android’s longest-running customization pillars is bowing out. Nova Launcher, a staple for power users with tens of millions of installs on Google Play, is shutting down as an actively developed product after its founder, Kevin Barry, announced the end of ongoing work. For a community that built entire workflows around Nova’s gestures, icon packs, and granular control, the question is simple: what now?
What happened and what’s next
Nova’s story took a turn when Branch, a mobile measurement company that acquired Nova Launcher and the Sesame search add-on, became its steward. Barry has since said he’s leaving the company and that an earlier idea of releasing Nova’s code to the community is not moving forward. Without an open-source handoff, the practical outcome is clear: no new features, bug fixes, or compatibility updates.
If you already use Nova, it won’t vanish from your phone overnight. But Android evolves quickly. Each major release tweaks permissions, gestures, and background limits, and launchers must adapt. Historically, Nova’s rapid updates kept pace with changes like Adaptive Icons, notification dots, and gesture navigation. Without maintenance, minor annoyances can snowball into broken shortcuts, widget oddities, or battery-management conflicts—especially on heavily customized OEM skins.
Availability is also a question mark. Even if the Play listing remains for a while, delisting or loss of compatibility with newer devices is a real possibility. Nova Prime owners should assume the unlock will continue to work on existing installations, but new downloads or device migrations may be uncertain down the road.
Will Nova stop working on your phone?
Short term, no. Your home screen, gestures, and icon setup should continue as-is. The bigger risk is slow drift: an Android update changes how recents behave, or a permissions revision affects notifications and badges, and there’s no patch coming. Devices from Samsung, Xiaomi, and others sometimes add their own quirks—aggressive background limits or launcher privileges—making third-party support a moving target.
Practical steps now: export your Nova configuration, keep local copies of your wallpapers and icon packs, and consider freezing your setup if it’s mission-critical. If Nova is delisted later, sideloading will still be possible on many devices, but future system-level changes could limit that option.
Best alternatives to try now
There’s no perfect one-to-one replacement, but several launchers cover most needs:
Niagara Launcher: Minimalist, fast, and accessible with its alphabetized feed and one-handed design. It trades deep per-pixel control for speed and clarity, which many users now prefer.
Microsoft Launcher: A fully featured, polished option with robust work-life integrations, widgets, and frequent updates. It’s one of the few third-party launchers with very large-scale adoption.
Lawnchair: Community-driven and open-source, targeting a Pixel-like look with Material You elements and smart customization. Ideal if you want a clean, stock-inspired experience with extra knobs.
Smart Launcher 6: Category-based app drawer, flexible layouts, and clever theming. It’s a good blend of aesthetics and control without getting overwhelming.
Hyperion Launcher: A customization-forward choice from the Substratum team with granular tweaks, gestures, and strong theming support for icon and widget enthusiasts.
Action Launcher: Known for Covers and Shutters, it pioneered many productivity tricks. Update cadence has varied, but it remains a capable, familiar alternative for long-time tweakers.
Don’t overlook stock options if you value stability. Pixel Launcher, One UI Home, and other OEM launchers have improved materially—fewer bugs with system gestures, better animations, and tighter integration with device features.
How to switch without losing your setup
Start by exporting your Nova backup and taking screenshots of each home screen. Note your grid size, dock configuration, gesture mapping, and hidden apps—those details rarely transfer automatically across launchers.
List your icon packs and widget apps so you can reinstall them quickly. Recreate the structure first (pages, folders, and grids) before styling. Most modern launchers support icon packs, adaptive icons, and at least basic gesture shortcuts, which covers the core Nova experience for many users.
If you relied on advanced shortcuts and deep search, test alternatives’ search capabilities and app action support. Some launchers integrate system search, while others offer plug-ins or built-in quick actions that can approximate Nova’s richer behaviors.
What this means for Android customization
Nova defined the Android home screen for over a decade, proving there’s demand for precise control and reliable performance. Its shutdown underscores a broader reality: as Android’s system UI grows more opinionated—and OEMs optimize for their own launchers—third-party homescreens face a tougher path to long-term viability.
Still, the ecosystem isn’t empty. Open-source projects like Lawnchair keep the community spirit alive, while commercial options such as Microsoft Launcher invest in polish and scale. If Nova’s code isn’t released, there won’t be a drop-in community fork; if that ever changes, expect a wave of contributors ready to keep the torch lit.
For now, the best move is pragmatic: back up, evaluate your priorities, and pilot a replacement on your current device. Whether you choose minimalist speed or maximal control, Android’s defining feature remains true—you have a choice.