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Get the new Nexus launcher look with this simple Nova recipe
July 09, 2025
It will probably only take the Nova team a few days to incorporate thenew Nexus launcherinto their app proper, but if you’re simply dying to have it right now, you may. Using Nova Launcher, a couple widgets and an icon pack, you can pretty effectively recreate the new Google launcher right now on your very own device, even if it isn’t a Nexus.
Industrious Nova user and XDA contributor Corey Zonin came up with the recipe. It uses:
How to build the Nexus launcher in Nova
To get things setup you’ll need to firstinstall Novaas your default launcher as you normally would. Theninstall Polycon icon pack,install Zooper Widgets Proand download thetwo Nexus launcher widgets. Move these .zw files tosdcard/ZooperWidget/Templates
Long press on your home screen to add a 4×1 Zooper Widget right up top. Tap it and chooseconfigure > select SD Card > select nexus_launcher_topto get the Google button and date widget. Resize as necessary.
Back on the home screen, add another Zooper Widget, this time a 1×1 which you should center right above the dock icons. Tap it and locate the other .zw file on your SD card:nexus_launcher_drawerand back out of Zooper to finalize.
Now, in Nova settings (just long-press the home screen and choose settings), apply the following settings and values:
App & widget drawers
Gestures & inputs
You’ll now accessGoogle Nowby tapping the Google button and Calendar by tapping the date. You can swipe up from anywhere on the home screen to launch the app drawer, but tapping the little arrow on top of the dock will achieve the same. If you don’t really like this feature you can always just leave it out of the steps above. You can grab the leaked2016 Nexus wallpapersto complete the look.
Seems those rumors of Android 7.0 doing away with the Android app drawer weren’t entirely incorrect after all.
What do you think of the new Nexus launcher? Do you prefer this app drawer method to the current one?
Don’t miss:Download the leakedGalaxy Note 7 wallpapershere
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