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Bring hidden apps into your app drawer with the new Pixel Shortcuts app
- Pixel Shortcuts is a new app from the creator of Action Launcher.
- The app enables you to place “hidden” apps into the app drawer or on your home screen.
- The developer made the app after getting frustrated with the new Digital Wellbeing tools.
If you are one of the lucky few running Android 9.0 Pie on a Pixel device or the Essential Phone, you may have also signed up for the Digital Wellbeing beta. If you haven’t yet, check out the instructions here.
If you sign up for the beta, you’ll notice something strange: there is no Digital Wellbeing app in the app drawer. Instead, you have to go into Android Settings to the new Digital Wellbeing section, which will allow you to use the various tools therein.
Chris Lacy – the creator of the popular Action Launcher – thought this was strange. Why isn’t Digital Wellbeing in the app drawer with an icon like all the other apps?
Rather than complain about it, he decided to make a workaround: Pixel Shortcuts. This free app will allow you to bring “hidden” apps into your app drawer, complete with an icon and everything.
Even though Lacy created the app because of his frustration with Digital Wellbeing, Pixel Shortcuts works for any hidden app and on any version of Android running on any device. Other apps that might be hidden on your phone are Pixel Launcher, Android Launcher, and Samsung Experience Home.
Pixel Shortcuts allows you to either add the hidden app permanently to your app drawer or simply drag a one-time icon shortcut to a home screen of your choice.
The whole concept of Pixel Shortcuts is brilliant, as it enables you to finely tune your Android experience. Check it out at the link below: