Install the Google Now launcher on any Android device

posted by Alan F. / Feb 08, 2014, 2:46 PM

Install the Google Now launcher on any Android device

Remember the other day when we told you that the Nexus 5 launcher was changed to the Google Now launcher? While that move might signal that the launcher will eventually be available in the Google Play Store to be installed on other Android models, that is not the case currently. Still, it doesn't mean that you can't download and install the Google Now launcher on your non Nexus 5 handset, because you can.

The first thing you need to do to accomplish this task, is to download the latest updated version of Google Search for Android from the Google Play Store. Once that is done, you download the Nexus 5′s GoogleHome APK. The only settings change you will need to make is the one that allows you to install non Google Play apps on your phone.

With the Google Search app and the GoogleHome APK running on your phone, you can select the Google Now launcher by pressing your phone's home button. And while it has been designed for the Nexus 5 only, those who have tested it out say that it runs smoothly on the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One. If you have the Google Now launcher running smoothly on another Android device, let us know by passing along the information in the comment box below.

Screenshots of the Google Now launcher

source: GoogleSearchAPK, GoogleHomeAPK via RedmondPie

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46 Comments

1. Addictt

Posts: 3; Member since: Feb 08, 2014

Added this to my LG G2, seems to lag a little bit and the icons are huge! The layout is nice and simple, but for some reason It doesn't seem to use up the screen as well as it should. Also as I originally had 6 icons running across the bottom, and the grid was adjustable, it just seems odd that Google Now doesn't allow me to make these adjustments. Good simple design overall, albeit that it lags a little.

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 3:17 PM 3

13. WakaFlakaD

Posts: 575; Member since: Apr 30, 2011

Knock-on feature working?

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 5:28 PM 0

32. aleksandar2872000

Posts: 5; Member since: Aug 17, 2012

noup :(

posted on Feb 09, 2014, 3:12 AM 0

2. mishooo111

Posts: 30; Member since: Nov 22, 2012

just installed on my moto g, seems to be working pretty smooth

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 3:19 PM 1

29. hurrycanger

Posts: 1741; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

Do you get transparent top status bar on your Moto G (if you run Kit Kat)?

posted on Feb 09, 2014, 12:21 AM 0

35. tech2

Posts: 3487; Member since: Oct 26, 2012

Yup. I've installed Nova launcher from PlayStore to get rid of that annoying bar.

posted on Feb 09, 2014, 5:33 AM 0

3. Rocksteady unregistered

Installed on my nexus 4, smooth, but the icons are big, uninstalled, the default one looks nice imo

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 3:25 PM 2

24. 0

Posts: 242; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

I agree , I installed on my galaxy note 3 and I switched back to Nova . I still have this on my nexud 7 , transparent notification bar and on screen buttons looks good

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 8:23 PM 3

31. tadaa

Posts: 267; Member since: Apr 18, 2013

me too, the icons look blurred on nexus 4. plus i don't like 4x5 drawer. using epic launcher now though i miss having google now a swipe away to the right

posted on Feb 09, 2014, 3:12 AM 0

4. hurrycanger

Posts: 1741; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

I just installed it on my Galaxy Mega 6.3. It doesn't go very well. The app drawer icon is off to one side (6 icons total in the dock). It's also kindasluggish (I do realize the Mega has only 1.7Ghz dual core, but still...). Anyway, I would just go back to Nova launcher since big icons don't do me any justice. The original icon on this phone were already kinda big, This is even worse, lol. It makes the Mega seems like it's gotten 480p display. It's good to know that it works on various devices without Kit Kat and that it's easy to install.

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 3:32 PM 0

5. bootroot

Posts: 35; Member since: Sep 11, 2012

On S4 i've got 4 row of icons, on your screenshot it is 5 and it is better

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 3:36 PM 0

6. Augustine

Posts: 1043; Member since: Sep 28, 2013

I've had it in my '12 N7 for months now and it's lovely!

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 3:46 PM 0

7. bachir8k

Posts: 153; Member since: Feb 25, 2013

Just installed it on my S4, it runs smoothly, but i kinda like the default launcher more customized and smaller icons, uninstalling it now :)

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 3:52 PM 4

18. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

I bought and tried a few launchers cause I keep hearing people say theirs is better.. After trying it out for a week, I still return to touchwiz cause I miss the custom feature added by Samsung. Still I like having choices, each time I handle another person android phone its will some how be different from mine.

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 6:44 PM 1

8. bootroot

Posts: 35; Member since: Sep 11, 2012

Well dont see nothing cool more than the samsung one....

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 3:53 PM 0

9. bootroot

Posts: 35; Member since: Sep 11, 2012

bachir how can i uninstall this?

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 4:01 PM 0

15. r0ndy

Posts: 5; Member since: Dec 30, 2013

like a regular app, go to the apps list. find and uninstall there. or if you are using a launcher, you might be able to drag/drop from your app drawer to a trashcan to delete it.

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 5:35 PM 0

10. MobileNico

Posts: 93; Member since: Aug 26, 2012

Galaxy Nexus. Runs smoothly on CM11 :)

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 4:10 PM 0

11. wtmana

Posts: 55; Member since: Nov 27, 2013

What's app name ?

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 4:20 PM 0

12. vbtrud44

Posts: 1; Member since: Feb 08, 2014

I installed it on my Motorola Droid Maxx. Icons are large, but it seems to work pretty well.

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 4:34 PM 0

14. r0ndy

Posts: 5; Member since: Dec 30, 2013

ive used for a few minutes on my moto x. i didnt enjoy the huge icons, or losing some other features my apex launcher gives me. LOVE the slide over option for Google Now, wish i could keep that with my current setup

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 5:34 PM 0

16. blacktrump0674

Posts: 10; Member since: May 21, 2011

This works wonderful on my Samsung Galaxy Note II on the Sprint Network.

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 5:47 PM 0

17. sniper1087

Posts: 537; Member since: Dec 31, 2011

Tested the Google launcher apk on the moto x and note 3, no problems there, just the usual hiccups that you found on the nexus 5, like swiping to google now on the left, you see a stutter at the start on all of them, but besides that, it works well.

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 5:48 PM 0

19. kaikuheadhunterz

Posts: 1157; Member since: Jul 18, 2013

Installed it on both the Sony Xperia Neo V and HTC One V. Works quite well, and resource usage is comparable to Smart Launcher

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 7:01 PM 0

20. nlbates66

Posts: 328; Member since: Aug 15, 2012

got it working on my S III 4G (i9305) a few months ago, works fine but I don't use it because I prefer action launcher.

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 7:19 PM 0

21. mrbtree98

Posts: 50; Member since: Aug 04, 2012

works on my nexus 7 2012 and they finally fixed the issue of the launcher size. it's back to 5x6 or 6x5 when before it was 5x5.

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 7:32 PM 0

22. Augustine

Posts: 1043; Member since: Sep 28, 2013

Indeed! I noticed something subtly different on mine after the update, but couldn't put my finger on it.

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 7:37 PM 0

23. nvrhde

Posts: 77; Member since: Nov 10, 2012

tried many launcher including google on my gti9000 , still NOVA launcher, FTW

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 7:45 PM 1

25. Bioload25

Posts: 213; Member since: Nov 12, 2012

Just got it on my S3,working just fine,with rare lags or instabilities,but being only a launcher,it seems kinda half-baked without the official apps and other system 'layers'

posted on Feb 08, 2014, 8:34 PM 0

26. Tech_Junkie1996

Posts: 43; Member since: Aug 29, 2013

This looks gorgeous on my Tab 3 7.0. It fits perfectly, I'm guessing its since it can mimick the Nexus 7 layout. Easily replaced it from Touchwiz launcher. It also not that laggy, at least no more than my tablet already is.