Google, please make Pixel Launcher backups a actuality

I typically spend hours delicately tweaking my dwelling display screen, hand-picking every aspect and figuring out their greatest placement to make sure my gadget is ideal for my wants. This I do throughout all units and launchers, even with Pixel Launcher. This makes the necessity to backup my numerous layouts particularly necessary.

Whereas I’ve beforehand written about how Pixel Launcher’s deal with minimalism has diminished distractions and improved my workflow on my Pixel 8, the default Google dwelling expertise nonetheless feels unfinished. It lacks a number of easy but integral options that mature third-party Android launchers have provided for years, together with a devoted backup and restore characteristic.

Personalization is essential, because the default Pixel Launcher format gained’t swimsuit everybody. My format of icons and widgets is explicit to my wants, and it’s crucial to have the ability to report and replicate this method simply.

As I discussed within the introduction, I steadily tinker with my dwelling display screen, contemplating numerous implementations of icons and widgets. I take pleasure in making an attempt contemporary layouts, pushing the boundaries of my consolation, and noting what works and what doesn’t. This exploration is a part of my job, and I typically change layouts. As a rule of thumb, saving the present design is all the time greatest earlier than transferring on to the following one. This gives peace of thoughts and lets me return to zero rapidly and simply.

Each mature Android launcher I’ve used features a standalone backup system. These backups are saved as configuration recordsdata, containing settings, icon and widget placements, merchandise spacing, and different particulars essential to a customized dwelling display screen.

Importantly, this standalone file empowers customers. They will retailer it on a cloud service, dwelling server, second cellphone, or share it with associates. Nova Launcher, as an example, lets me save a number of format recordsdata, permitting me to tinker freely and revert to the earlier state at any time when I want. Customers may even share their layouts, which supplies the launcher a higher sense of neighborhood. All that’s required is the file itself and another third-party knowledge it could want (corresponding to a customized icon pack or widgets). Nevertheless, in the event you wade by Pixel Launcher’s comparatively shallow settings, it presently gives no method of making a standalone format backup file.

Very like throughout a very adventurous Skyrim playthrough, I favor having a number of save recordsdata available if I modify one thing I can’t repair or select a earlier state. With a backup file, I can restore my final design. This isn’t an possibility with Google’s dwelling app.

At this level, I do need to spotlight that Pixel Launcher knowledge is saved, however solely by Google’s broader gadget backup system. Head to Settings > System > Backupfaucet Again up nowand your knowledge can be mirrored to your Google account. Whereas I recognize that this knowledge is included, there are issues with this implementation.

When the launcher knowledge turns into part of my cellphone’s general backup, extracting a separate launcher format file turns into virtually not possible. This design makes it far more difficult to reapply a launcher format. Moreover, what occurs if I lose entry to my account? Impartial of my Google handle, a separate backup file would mitigate entry or knowledge loss points.

Google fails to speak whether or not or how a consumer’s dwelling display screen format is included in its backups. There’s no documentation inside the settings app or on its numerous assist pages on-line.

I perceive why Google prefers bundling all of its gadget backup knowledge collectively. For these upgrading Pixel units, reapplying the format is so simple as logging in and restoring the remainder of the gadget. That’s good, particularly for customers who should not as technically inclined. Nevertheless, a separate backup facility for Pixel Launcher layouts does nothing to decrease this method’s ease of use. It simply provides customers extra management.

Contemplate the advantages for much less tech-savvy customers, too. Think about if certainly one of my mother and father by accident deleted a complete launcher display screen that homes their important apps. They will barely bear in mind the format, so I couldn’t presumably assist them replicate it. A easy format backup would clear up this drawback in a heartbeat.

Sure, these customers craving extra management may simply swap to a third-party launcher, however I don’t think about this an answer. These customers would miss out on Pixel Launcher’s myriad positives and slick operation. Furthermore, third-party launchers nonetheless really feel horrible on Pixels. They proceed to stutter round on my Pixel 8 regardless of Google’s makes an attempt to repair the animation issues. These points proceed to push me in the direction of Pixel Launcher on Pixel {hardware} regardless of its quite a few shortcomings.

I may additionally take a screenshot, as many customers on-line appear to imagine is an answer. However this workaround nonetheless means I have to manually rebuild my format primarily based on photographs relatively than routinely apply it by a file. The latter is way much less prone to make an error than I’m.

Finally, the dearth of a devoted backup system is only one drawback in a broader set of Pixel Launcher points, however I imagine it’s one of many best to repair. It will profit energy customers who push the bounds of their telephones’ designs and people who wouldn’t even understand it’s all that necessary till they require it. I feel it’s excessive time that Google significantly considers plugging this hole.