Nova Launcher 5.5 throws in adaptive icons, Google search bar in the dock, and more

Having been in beta since September, Nova Launcher version 5.5 is now available for those who like their launches well-cooked, and it’s a bit of a doozy.

The first new feature is support for adaptive icons, something Google has been pushing with Android 8.0 Oreo. So long as your device runs Android 5.0 Lollipop or later, you can go into Settings and change your icon shapes to round, squared circle (squircle?), rounded square, square, and teardrop. You can have the icon shape apply only for apps that support adaptive icons or force all of your app icons to adopt the changes.

Next up is the ability to place the Google search bar in the dock, as seen in the header image above. Alternatively, you can place the search bar above your apps, though you can leave it below your apps if you want to mimic the look of the Pixel 2. Regardless of how you position the search bar, you can change how it looks and even replace it with whatever other widget you want.

Finally, Nova Launcher 5.5 features Android 8.1’s pop-up menu, which you can enable by going to Look and Feel within Settings. Of course, the new version of Nova Launcher also brings with it numerous bug fixes and optimizations, but having a few new features isn’t too shabby, either.

Whether you already have Nova Launcher or are looking to download it for the first time, you can download the new version through the Play Store at the link below.