Action Launcher: Everything you need to know!

Some launchers are made to be quick. Some launchers are made to be adaptable. Some launchers are made to be smart. Then there are some launchers that try to do it all, and they usually fail. Action Launcher, however, is the rare instance of a home screen launcher that is as quick as it is cunning, and white it does have limits, there's no doubt that Action is one of the best launchers you could come home to.

The latest Action Launcher news

December 24, 2018 — Action Launcher gives stable users big, beautiful v38 update for Christmas

Action Launcher's latest update is a beauty, and after three weeks of beta testing, v38 is rolling out to everyone. Merry Christmas! Overhauled launcher settings for all!

The update has more goodies than Santa's sleigh — most of which we covered in the beta release below — but the improvements to Quicktheme and return of the Lock Device gesture option will excite users most. The update also includes the 2019 Supporter banner, for either $6 or $12.

'tis the season of giving, so consider giving back to Action Launcher's developer, Chris Lacy, and enabling him to keep cranking out cool updates like this one! Who knows, maybe he'll bring us hex color support for Quicktheme next Christmas.

Free at Google Play

December 3, 2018 — Action Launcher v38 Beta is here and it's got presents for everybody!

Action Launcher has been on V37 for months now, and with it's sixth birthday coming up later this week, I was wondering when we'd be seeing a big, beautiful beta update from Chris Lacy. v38.0-beta1 is here, and there's a lot here to unpack, starting with overhauled Action Settings!!! Woo hoo!!

Sorry, I'm a settings nerd, and it's been a great year to be one. The new Action Settings infuses more colors into the menus and features more granular Quicktheme settings — still no hex color picker, I'll have to write Santa about that — a newly combined Appearance menu, and the ability to search for settings by name. Searching for settings is a godsend, especially for a launcher with as many awesome options as Action Launcher

More Pie and Pixel goodness has seeped into Action Launcher with v38, particularly in the app drawers, folders, and pop-up menus. There's also new infinite scroll options for both home screens and docks, and it's making me nostalgic for the days when I used three dock pages for all my app folders. Good times...

This update also brings the 2019 Supporter badge, which comes with 5 pink and purple wallpapers that make my inner girly-girl weep with joy. You can become an Action Launcher Supporter for $6 or $12, but everyone opted into the Action Launcher beta can enjoy this update right now as it rolls out through Google Play!

Free at Google Play

Get in on the Action

The Swiss Army home screen

Great green home screen

Action Launcher is a launcher that's perfect for the instant gratification generation, because it's watchword is quick: Quickdrawer, Quickpage, Quicktheme. You can get your home screen set up exactly as you want with Action Launcher and you can find your way around it real quick. Here's what makes Action Launcher the best launcher and the only launcher for so many users.

Action Launcher review

Theming made easy

Quicktheme for quick awesomeness

Theming on Android takes a little skill, a little know-how, and a lot of luck. Or you could just use Action Launcher, which makes it stupid simple to get your launcher themed properly to color-match most wallpapers you set.

Inside Quicktheme

Behold, a Cave of Wonders

Shutters and Covers and Quickpages, oh my!

Most launchers are pretty straightforward: you have a number of home screens, a dock, and an app drawer. Action Launcher's not most launchers, and if you look closely at this diamond in the Android rough, you'll find a treasure chest of hidden wonders.

Covers, Shutters, and Quickpage: Action Launcher's hidden treasures

Get Adaptive

Adaptivepack and Adaptive folders

Adaptive icons are here, and no doubt they will improve, but until they do, Action Launcher has decided to take matters into their own hands by creating launcher-exclusive AdaptivePack to allow users to get Adaptive goodness on their home screens without being completely besieged by white backer plates. As a bonus, you can now have adaptive folder icons to match your adaptive icons!

Action Launcher's approach to Adaptive icons

Why would you make us choose?!

WHICH ONE?!

Swiping from the left edge of Action Launcher, you have two mutually-exclusive features you can choose from: the recently-added Google Now pane, and Action Launcher's classic Quickdrawer. So… which do you choose? How can you choose?!

Quickdrawer or Google Now, an Action Launcher dilemma

Be a hero with Action Launcher Supporter

Support Action Launcher

App development is a full-time job, and good apps deserve to have their developer compensated so they can devote their full time to making said apps better instead of being distracted by another job. Enter Action Launcher Supporter, and the history that led to it.

Go beyond Plus! Action Launcher Supporters

Why do you love Action Launcher?

My beauty

Tell us in the comments: what keeps you coming home to Action Launcher?

Ara Wagoner

Ara Wagoner was a staff writer at Android Central. She themes phones and pokes YouTube Music with a stick. When she's not writing about cases, Chromebooks, or customization, she's wandering around Walt Disney World. If you see her without headphones, RUN. You can follow her on Twitter at @arawagco.