We asked, you told us: Most of you use your phone's default launcher

One of the best ways to customize an Android phone is by installing a different launcher, giving users a different home screen, extra features, or even smoother performance compared to the default launcher.

Do people still download new launchers though or are they happy with the pre-installed one? That’s what we wanted to find out, and here’s how you voted in this poll.

Do you use your phone’s default launcher or download a new one?

Results

This proved to be a popular poll, with just over 10,000 votes tallied as a result. It turns out that a massive 69.6% of respondents do indeed use their phone’s default launcher. Some reader comments point to features like gesture navigation not working on third-party launchers or plenty of customization with the default launcher anyway.

More reading: The best Android launchers worth downloading

Meanwhile, 30.34% of polled readers say they download and use a different launcher on their phones. Some comments supporting this stance point to the desire to have the same experience on every phone or the need for more customization.

Some of the more popular third-party launchers mentioned in the comments include the venerable Nova Launcher, Niagara Launcher, Square Home, ADW, and Total Launcher.

Comments

• tazoman: I use the default launcher because, gesture navigation doesn’t work well on 3rd party launchers. Also the animations feels glitchy
• Nick V: The Pixel Launcher is great and does everything I need, as well as looks great. I’ve tried others and keep coming back to stock
• fatspirit: I want to get the same experience on every phone that I own. And the Nova Launcher is my pick.
• Debra RightIntwo Boykin: I’ve been using Samsung’s default launcher for years. With Good Lock and Good Guardians, I have the ability to change whatever I need to. I also use KWGT on top of OneUI. No problems whatsoever.
• Evie: Nova. I love being able to hide ‘bloat’ apps from the drawer and using one app icon to launch 3 different apps. Perfect for minimal look but high functionality.
• Sandeep: Third party launchers are broken even on android 12 ( full screen gestures, laggy animations while app switching) At this point I think OEMs especially Samsung are doing it deliberately, to increase their earnings via stock launcher theme markets. Shady business tactics.
• MnstrMike: Galaxy Note One UI…lose to many useful features with SPen on a 3rd party. I used to run Nova on just about everything, but OP had a nice launcher and Pixel was okay. Unfortunately as others state once you move to 3rd party you lose some features and unless you are willing to root, you can’t get them back.
• Ifnkovhgroghprm: niagara launcher for me, it’s the perfect minimalist launcher and have had no isuues with gestures not working.
• PhoenixWitti: OneUI is too good to ignore.
• cherryfreemeleefreesplatoon: One Ui is the only reason I bought my S10 and it has only improved since I got it.
• Peter Jussen: Have never seen the point in changing launcher. Hate putting anything unnecessary on my phone and can’t see what you gain? I can find everything easy
• RJ Ducusin: I use Square Home on my Pixel 6 Pro. Its the best Windows phone i’ve had.