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Install the launcher from Google Play, then set it as Android’s Home app in Settings > Apps > Default apps. Depending on your phone, the setting may instead be called Home app, Home screen, or Choose default apps. If you cannot find it, search Settings for “default” or “home.”
What changing the launcher actually does
Android’s launcher is the app that presents the Home screen, app list, icons, widgets and the response to the Home button or gesture. Installing a launcher only adds another app; Android will continue using the current launcher until you select the new one as the default Home experience.
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The procedure is reversible. You can return to the original launcher from the same default-app control, provided that launcher remains available on the phone. The names and location of the controls are not identical across manufacturers or Android versions, so treat the paths below as a reliable starting point rather than a universal menu map.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchChanging the Home app is different from opening a launcher once. Tapping Open in Google Play starts the app, but pressing Home later can still return you to the old launcher until Android’s Home preference is changed. The default selection is the part that tells Android which app should handle future Home actions.
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Do you need to buy anything?
No phone accessory, launcher-specific hardware, setup book or repair tool is required for this task. The supported process is software-only: use the phone’s official app store, install the launcher, and select it in the Home/default-app controls. Keep the original launcher installed while testing so you have a straightforward way to switch back.
Before you install: a short preparation checklist
- Know the phone model and Android version. Menu labels can differ between two phones from the same manufacturer, and a guide written for Android 13 may not match a newer release. Write down the exact model and software version before following a model-specific guide.
- Use the phone’s official app store. The standard flow is to open Google Play, search for the launcher, open its listing and tap Install.
- Keep the original launcher available. Do not disable or remove system apps while trying a new launcher; retaining the original gives you a straightforward way back.
- Expect a first-run setup screen. A launcher may ask you to accept its terms or choose an initial layout before it can serve as Home. Those screens are specific to the app and are separate from Android’s default-app setting.
- Be ready to search Settings. If the menu shown in this guide is absent, use the Settings search field with the terms
defaultandhome. - Do not assume a web guide is current. Community examples can describe Android 13 or an older manufacturer interface. Compare the example with your exact model and version instead of forcing a missing menu path.
Install the third-party launcher from Google Play
- Open Google Play Store.
- Tap the search field and enter the launcher’s exact name.
- Open the correct listing. Check the app name and publisher before installing so you do not select an unrelated result.
- Tap Install and wait for the installation to finish. Google’s general Android guidance notes that individual steps can vary by device.
- Tap Open if you want to complete the launcher’s own welcome or setup screens. You can also leave Play Store and change the default Home app from Settings.
At this point the launcher is installed, but it is not necessarily active. The next step tells Android which app should handle the Home action. If the Play Store button still says Pending or Install, finish that issue first; an app that has not completed installation cannot reliably appear in the Home-app list.
Set the new launcher as Android’s default Home app
Use the standard Android or Pixel path
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps.
- Tap Default apps. Some phones display Choose default apps instead.
- Open the Home-related category. It may be labeled Home app, Home screen, or another manufacturer-specific name.
- Select the launcher you installed.
- Press the Home button or swipe up using your normal Home gesture. The new launcher should now open.
Google’s Pixel instructions document changing a selected default app from Settings > Apps > Default apps. The Pixel help page also warns that some of its instructions apply only to Android 14 and later, so do not assume every Pixel release exposes exactly the same wording.
Google’s Android Help gives the broader warning that steps may vary slightly because a device manufacturer can change its Android software. That is why a missing label is not proof that the launcher is incompatible; first search the phone’s own Settings and check the manufacturer’s current instructions.
If the category has a different name
| What you may see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Home app | The selector for the app that handles Home. | Open it and choose the installed launcher. |
| Home screen | A manufacturer’s label for the same Home experience. | Open the list and select the new launcher. |
| Default apps | A page containing several default categories. | Open the Home-related category, not the browser, phone or messaging category. |
| Choose default apps | An alternate heading for default handlers. | Look for Home, launcher or home-screen settings inside it. |
| No obvious Home entry | The manufacturer may place the control elsewhere. | Search Settings for default and then home. |
The exact label and location depend on the phone maker and software version. Google’s Android help explicitly notes that manufacturers can change these steps. A menu path that works on one Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, Realme or Xiaomi model may not match another model from the same brand.
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Use the Home-app chooser when it appears
Some devices show an app chooser the first time you press Home after installing another launcher. If that prompt appears, select the launcher and choose Always to make it the default.
This is an optional fallback, not a prompt that every Android phone is guaranteed to display. If you see no chooser, use the Settings method above. If you selected Just once or dismissed the prompt, the launcher may still be available under the Home or default-app setting.
Do not interpret the absence of the chooser as an installation failure. Many devices expect the default to be selected explicitly in Settings. Conversely, seeing a chooser does not eliminate the need to verify the result: press Home again and confirm that the new launcher opens without another selection prompt.
Confirm that the switch worked
- Leave Settings and press Home once. The new launcher should appear without an app-selection prompt.
- Open the app drawer or swipe through the Home panels to confirm that you are seeing the new app’s interface rather than the original one.
- Lock and unlock the phone, then press Home again. This checks that the selection persists after leaving the Settings screen.
- If the old Home screen still appears, return to the Home-app selector and verify that the new launcher is actually selected; opening a launcher once does not always make it the default.
- Check the selected entry by name. A manufacturer may show its original launcher under a branded name rather than a generic label such as “Launcher.”
Switch back to the original launcher
- Open Settings.
- Go to Apps > Default apps, or use Settings search for
homeordefault. - Open Home app, Home screen or the equivalent category.
- Select the original launcher from the list.
- Press Home to confirm that the previous Home experience has returned.
Pixel help documents changing a selected default app, and community guidance describes selecting the original launcher from the same type of Home setting. The original option may have a manufacturer name rather than a generic “Launcher” label. If you removed or disabled the original app, it may no longer be available in the list, which is why keeping it installed is the safest approach during testing.
Device variation: why online paths do not always match
Android is customized by each phone manufacturer. A menu path shown for one model, region or Android release can be absent on another. Community examples mention different arrangements on Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, Realme and Xiaomi phones, but those examples are not universal instructions and some refer to Android 13. Use them only as clues after identifying your exact model and Android version.
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| Situation | Best next action |
|---|---|
| The phone has Default apps. | Open it and find Home app or Home screen. |
| The phone has Choose default apps. | Open that page and look for the Home-related selector. |
| There is no visible Home category. | Search Settings for home, then default. |
| A web guide shows a different path. | Check its Android version and model; do not treat an Android 13 example as a current universal path. |
| The phone is managed by an employer, school or other administrator. | Ask the administrator whether changing the Home app is restricted. The general Android instructions do not establish one universal solution for a managed or blocked device. |
Google Pixel Phone Help states, “Important: Some of the steps below only work on Android 14 and up.” Google Android Help similarly says that steps may vary because manufacturers change Android software. Those cautions apply to the labels and locations in this guide as well.
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The launcher does not appear in the Home-app list
- Return to Google Play and confirm that installation completed rather than remaining paused or pending.
- Open the launcher once so its initial setup can finish.
- Close and reopen the default-app page, then search Settings for
home. - Check that you installed the intended app and that it is compatible with the phone’s Android version. App-specific compatibility details are not established by the general Android instructions, so consult the launcher publisher if the listing reports a requirement.
- Look under both Home app and Home screen; a manufacturer may use one label in Settings search and another in the selector.
If the app is installed but never appears as a selectable Home app, Android’s general help does not provide one universal repair. Record the phone maker, exact model and Android version, then use the manufacturer’s current support instructions or the launcher publisher’s support channel. Avoid assuming that clearing unrelated system data or changing advanced settings will add the missing entry.
Pressing Home keeps opening the old launcher
- Verify the selected value in the Home-app setting; launching the new app manually is not the same as making it the default.
- Look for a chooser after pressing Home. If it appears, select the new launcher and choose Always.
- If the old launcher remains selected and the new one is missing, return to the installation checks above.
- Press Home after leaving Settings rather than relying only on the launcher’s own Open button.
The phone never shows an app chooser
That is normal on devices that expect you to set the default from Settings. The chooser-and-Always route is community advice for some phones, not a required Android feature. Go directly to the Home-app or default-app selector instead.
The menu path in a video or article is different
Menu placement can change with the manufacturer’s software and Android release. Avoid forcing an old path. Use Settings search for default or home, and verify the instructions against support documentation for your exact model.
The phone refuses to let you change the Home app
First identify whether the device is managed or otherwise restricted. The reviewed Android guidance does not establish a universal fix for a blocked selector. Do not treat Developer Options, bootloader changes, resetting all app preferences or clearing system-app data as routine launcher-switching steps; they are not supported here as standard solutions and can create new problems.
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You cannot find the original launcher when switching back
Check whether it is still installed and enabled. The safest recovery route is the same Home/default-app selector, where the original may appear under a manufacturer-specific name. If it is absent, note the exact model and Android version and consult current manufacturer support rather than attempting system modifications.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens to your old Home screen and data
Changing the default Home app changes which app responds to Home. It does not, by itself, uninstall the previous launcher. Keeping the original installed makes switching back possible. The layout, widgets and settings belong to each launcher, so a new launcher may present a different arrangement even though the underlying Android apps remain installed.
Launcher-specific migration, backup and restoration behavior varies by app and was not established by the general installation guidance. If preserving a carefully arranged layout matters, read the chosen launcher’s own documentation before replacing the default. Do not assume that icons, folders or widgets from one launcher will automatically be reproduced in another.
Switching the default is therefore a preference change, not a promise that two launchers share the same layout database. Before experimenting, make a note of any Home-screen arrangement you care about and confirm whether the launcher you choose offers its own backup or restore feature.
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- Installed? If no, install the launcher from Google Play.
- Setup completed? If the launcher has a welcome screen, finish it or open the app once.
- Listed as a Home option? If yes, select it under the default-app controls.
- Chooser appeared? If yes, select the launcher and tap Always; if no, continue using Settings.
- Still using the old Home screen? Recheck the selected Home app and search Settings for alternate labels.
- Still blocked or missing? Gather the model and Android version and consult current manufacturer support rather than applying unverified system changes.
Key points to remember
- A launcher is installed like any other Android app, but installation alone does not make it the Home app.
- The normal control is under Settings > Apps > Default apps, with a Home-related category inside.
- Labels such as Home app, Home screen and Choose default apps can all refer to the relevant control.
- The Home chooser with Always appears only on some devices.
- You can switch back by selecting the original launcher from the same setting, as long as it remains available.
- Manufacturer and Android-version differences are expected; use Settings search and model-specific support when a path does not match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is installing a launcher enough to change the Home screen?
No. Installation adds the app, but you must select it under the phone’s Home or default-app setting. Opening the app once does not always make it the default.
Where is the launcher setting on Android?
Start with Settings > Apps > Default apps, then look for Home app or Home screen. Some phones use Choose default apps. Search Settings for “default” or “home” if you do not see those labels.
What if Android shows a chooser after I press Home?
Select the new launcher and tap Always. This chooser appears on some devices, but it is not guaranteed on every Android phone.
Can I switch back to the original launcher?
Yes, if it remains installed and available. Open the same Home/default-app selector and choose the original launcher, which may be listed under a manufacturer-specific name.
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Confirm that Google Play finished installing it, open it once to complete setup, reopen the default-app page, and search Settings for “home.” If it still does not appear, record the phone maker, model and Android version and contact current manufacturer or launcher support.
Will changing launchers delete my apps or old layout?
Changing the default Home app does not by itself uninstall the previous launcher or other Android apps. However, each launcher has its own layout, widgets and settings, so the arrangement may not carry over automatically.
Why do instructions for my phone look different online?
Manufacturers change Android’s menus, and paths can differ by model and software version. Some community examples refer to Android 13 and may be outdated. Check the exact model and Android version and use Settings search.
Should I use Developer Options or reset app preferences if switching fails?
No. Those are not established as routine launcher-switching fixes. Use the Home/default-app controls and current manufacturer support instead.
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The Bottom Line
Install the launcher through Google Play, finish its initial setup, then select it under Settings > Apps > Default apps and the phone’s Home app or Home screen category. If a chooser appears, selecting Always may work; otherwise use Settings. Keep the original launcher installed so you can switch back, and rely on model-specific support when labels or controls differ.
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