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Install the launcher, open Settings, search for Default home app (or Home app), choose the launcher’s installed app name, and press Home or swipe up to test it. Android menu names differ by manufacturer and software version, so Settings search is the most reliable starting point.
What “launcher” and “Home app” mean on Android
Android uses the word launcher for the app that provides your Home screen. In the system settings, that same role is usually labeled Home app or default home app. Changing this setting tells Android which installed app should open when you go to the Home screen.
The launcher you want to use must already be installed before it can be selected. Android lists it by the app’s installed name, not necessarily by a shortened name you use in conversation. If installation is still in progress, the app may not appear in the Home-app picker.
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The quickest method: use Settings search
Settings search avoids guessing which category your phone maker uses. Google notes that some steps vary by device, so use the following as the general procedure rather than expecting identical screens on every phone.
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- Install the launcher. Finish the installation and wait until the app is available in your app list.
- Open Settings. Use the phone’s main Settings app, not a shortcut inside the launcher.
- Search for “Default home app.” Open the result that refers to the default Home app or default launcher.
- If there is no result, search for “Home app.” The shorter phrase is used on some builds. You can also search for Default apps.
- Open the Home-app selector. The page may be titled Home app, Default home app, or Default launcher.
- Tap the new launcher’s installed app name. Select the app you just installed rather than the built-in launcher.
- Return to the Home screen. Tap the Home button if you use three-button navigation, or swipe up according to your gesture-navigation setup. The selected launcher should open.
If the new Home screen appears, the change is complete. You do not need to keep reopening the selector unless you want to change the default again.
Where the setting appears on common Android phones
Manufacturers organize Settings differently. The routes below are examples reported for Android 13; they are not guarantees for every model, region, carrier build, or newer Android release. If a route does not match your phone, return to Settings search and try Default home app, Home app, or Default apps.
| Device family | Android 13 example | How to treat the route |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Settings > Apps > Choose default apps > Home app | Example menu path; labels can change with the One UI version or model. |
| Oppo | Settings > Apps > Default App > Home app | Example for Android 13; your software may use a plural “Default apps” label. |
| OnePlus | Settings > Apps > Default App > Home app | Example for Android 13; use Settings search if the category is named differently. |
| Realme | Settings > Apps > Default App > Home app | Example for Android 13, not a universal route for all Realme builds. |
| Xiaomi, Redmi, or Poco | Settings > Home screen > Default launcher | The selector may be under Home screen rather than Apps. |
| Google Pixel | Search Settings for Default home app; a community route is Settings > Apps > Default apps > Home app. | Community guidance; exact wording can differ by Pixel model and Android version. |
The table explains why copying a route from another phone can be misleading. For example, Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco devices may place the control under Home screen, while Samsung places it inside Apps. The setting itself is the same: choose the app that should serve as Home.
How to verify that the new launcher is actually the default
Opening the launcher once is not enough to prove that Android saved it as the default. Use a repeatable test:
- Leave Settings after selecting the app.
- From another app, invoke Home using your normal navigation control.
- Check whether the new launcher’s Home screen appears without an additional chooser.
- Open Home again after moving to a different screen or app to confirm the behavior is consistent.
Button navigation normally uses the Home button. Gesture navigation normally uses the Home gesture, commonly a swipe up from the bottom edge. The gesture itself varies by device, but the test is identical: invoke Android’s Home action and see which app responds.
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If the old launcher still appears, reopen the default-app setting and check which entry is selected. A selection may not have been saved if the installation had not finished or if you exited before tapping an app name.
Switching back to the built-in launcher
You can reverse the change through the same Home-app selector. Open Settings, search for Default home app or Home app, open the result, and choose the phone’s built-in launcher. The built-in entry is usually identified by the manufacturer or device name. On Pixel phones, a Google community answer identifies Pixel Launcher in the Home-app defaults.
After selecting the built-in option, return Home and test it. If you cannot find the selector, use the manufacturer examples above only as a guide and search Settings again; menu organization can change after an Android or manufacturer-interface update.
If the new launcher is not listed
A missing entry means Android is not currently offering that app in the Home-app picker. Work through these checks in order rather than repeatedly selecting the old launcher.
Confirm that installation completed
Check the app list for the launcher and open its app page. If the installation is pending, interrupted, or incomplete, finish it before returning to the default-app setting. The available guidance establishes installation as a prerequisite for selection.
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Search using all of Android’s labels
Run separate Settings searches for Default home app, Home app, and Default apps. Some phones expose the selector directly, while others place it inside a broader default-app page. On Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco devices, search for Default launcher or browse under Home screen.
Check the app name shown by Android
The picker uses the launcher’s installed app name. If you are looking for a nickname, a developer name, or a separate widget name, you may miss the correct entry. Compare the name in the app list with the names in the Home-app selector.
Use the phone maker’s current support instructions
There is no single universal repair for a missing option. Android builds and manufacturer interfaces differ, and the documented examples do not establish one fix that works on every model. If the launcher is installed but still absent, consult the current support instructions for the exact phone model and software version.
Check whether you are in the correct Settings app
Some launchers include their own settings screens, but those screens do not replace Android’s system default-app control. Start from the device’s main Settings app so the operating system can register the Home app.
If Settings search finds nothing
Search indexing can use different wording, or a manufacturer may hide the control under a category. Browse the likely locations while keeping the goal—finding the Home-app selector—in mind.
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- Open Apps and look for Default apps, Choose default apps, or Default App.
- Inside that page, select Home app.
- On some Xiaomi-family phones, open Home screen and then Default launcher.
- On a Pixel, check Apps > Default apps > Home app if the search result is not displayed.
Do not assume that a path labeled “Apps” on one phone will exist on another. Android’s own guidance warns that steps may vary by device, and the Android 13 examples demonstrate that variation.
Android version and manufacturer differences to keep in mind
Android 13 examples are a reference, not a permanent map
The named routes in the table were reported for Android 13. A later Android release, a manufacturer-interface update, or a region-specific build can rename a menu, move it, or change capitalization. Treat the labels as search terms as well as navigation instructions.
“Default App” and “Default apps” can both be correct
Oppo, OnePlus, and Realme examples use Default App in the singular, while other phones use Default apps. The important destination is the Home app item inside that area.
Home-screen controls can be separate from app controls
Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco examples place the choice under Home screen and call it Default launcher. If you only browse under Apps, you may overlook it.
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- The desired launcher is installed and its installation has finished.
- You opened the device’s main Settings app.
- You searched for Default home app first.
- You also tried Home app or Default apps if needed.
- You opened the system selector, not merely the launcher’s own settings.
- You selected the launcher by the exact installed app name.
- You returned Home using your device’s button or gesture.
- The new Home screen appeared without another chooser.
- If you wanted to undo the change, you selected the built-in launcher in the same selector.
Common mistakes and the precise correction
Looking for “launcher” instead of “Home app”
Android’s setting is often labeled Home app, not “launcher.” Search for both terms, but prioritize Default home app because it describes the system control directly.
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Following a menu path from a different manufacturer
A Samsung path may not exist on a Xiaomi phone, and a Xiaomi Home-screen path may not exist on a Samsung phone. Use the manufacturer table only when it matches your device family; otherwise use Settings search.
Testing with the wrong navigation action
Pressing a launcher’s on-screen shortcut does not test Android’s default Home assignment. Leave an app and use the phone’s actual Home button or Home gesture.
Assuming a newer build must use Android 13 labels
The Android 13 examples are useful signposts, but newer software can move the control. If a label is missing, search the alternate terms and consult model-specific support information.
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If the launcher is fully installed, the correct Home-app selector is open, and the app still never appears, the available general instructions cannot identify a universal cause or fix. At that point, record the phone model, Android version, manufacturer interface version, and the exact labels you can see, then use the phone maker’s current support documentation for that combination. This is more reliable than applying a route from an unrelated device.
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