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RIP Google Now Launcher, it was a good run
June 19, 2025
It looks like the end of the Google Now Launcher is finally here. First spotted byAndroid Central, the Google Now Launcher reads as incompatible with almost every smartphone in theGoogle Play Store.
If you are still using the Google Now Launcher on your device, don’t worry; it won’t go away. However, if you ever uninstall it or switch devices, you will have to find a new launcher to use.
Luckily, we’ve already compileda terrific list of launchersyou can download to replace the Google Now Launcher. Justclick hereto check it out. My vote is to downloadNova Launcherand spend the extra money to upgrade toNova Prime. It’s the best launcher on the market, in my humble opinion.
Google first released the Google Now Launcher along with theNexus 5, which was running Android 4.4 KitKat. Eventually, Google posted the launcher in the Google Play Store for anyone to download.
With Google’s focus onGoogle Assistant, the Google Now Launcher became irrelevant, and last year the company announced the imminent demise of the launcher. Google’s latestPixel Launchercomes preinstalled on Pixel devices (naturally) and is also available in the Google Play Store. If you want to install it on a non-Pixel device though,you’ll have to sideload it for now.
What’s your preferred launcher for your Android device? Let us know in the comments! Or just tell us about how much you’ll miss the Google Now Launcher if it was or still is your preferred launcher of choice.
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