How to install a launcher to transform the look of Android

Understanding Android launchers

When you hit the Home button on an Android device, the launcher app kicks into action: on stock Android, it's the Google Now launcher that appears by default (with Google Now one swipe away from the home screen). Meanwhile HTC, Samsung and the rest all have their own takes on launchers that come pre-installed.

Android being the (relatively) open platform it is, you can install a third-party alternative too, a process that's been made much easier with official launcher support in recent versions of Android. They change the appearance of home screens, widgets, icons, app drawers and more besides, and in this guide we'll show you how you can install a new Android launcher to change the look of - and add features to - your Android smartphone or tablet.

1. Choose your launcher: Nova Launcher

Installing a launcher is actually very easy, and you'll probably have more trouble choosing one from the Google Play Store. Nova Launcher is one of the most popular (there's also a premium version) - it looks similar to stock Android on the surface, but it comes with a whole host of customisation options, from scroll effects to icon labels.

2. Choose your launcher: Arrow Launcher

Microsoft has an Android launcher of its own called Arrow Launcher. Tech company rivalries aside, Arrow is fast and fresh-looking, and is particularly good at getting your favourite apps organised so you can get to them easily.

3. Choose your launcher: Themer

If you really want to transform the Android interface, choose Themer. There are stacks of gorgeous-looking themes to pick from, and the reskinning jobs they do are so good that it's sometimes hard to believe you're still using Google's OS on your phone.

4. Choose your launcher: Go Launcher

Go Launcher is bright, flexible and packed with features - you can, for example, add customised scroll effects, change the layout and order of the icons in the app drawer, adjust the behaviour of the dock on the home screen and much more besides.

5. Buzz Launcher

Buzz Launcher works along similar lines to Themer, allowing you to make wholesale changes to the look and feel of Android by installing theme packs that cover wallpapers, icons and widgets - you can browse through some of what's available online, and there are tens of thousands to choose from.

6. Install your chosen launcher

You might think we've spent a long time waffling on about launchers but the actual installation process is very simple (thanks Google): install your chosen launcher from the Google Play store then opt to open it up (you can install several at once if you want to).

7. Switch between launchers

Once you install an additional launcher, Android adds a new 'Home' entry to the Settings app (under the 'Device' heading on stock Android) - tap on this to see all the launchers you've currently got on your device, remove any you no longer need, and switch between them as you like.

8. Configure your chosen launcher

Every launcher comes with a stack of customisation options for you to play around with (those shown above are some of the ones for Apex Launcher). Typically, you're going to be able to modify app icon sizes and spacing, folder behaviour, app drawer settings, and so on and so on - actually, the number of available settings can be quite daunting at first.