Arrow Launcher (for Android) - Review 2022

If you use a skinned Android interface like that on the popular Samsung Galaxy S6, you know that it'south not exactly straightforward. When you lot swipe in either direction on the home screen, you lot get pages of widgets, icons, and settings, but never, it seems, what you need. Enter Microsoft Garage'southward Arrow Launcher app, which is designed to simplify this experience. Given that Arrow has had more than than a million downloads, it seems that I'm not the only one who wants more clarity in the Android experience.

Starting Upward

You lot discover and install the Pointer launcher just equally you would any other Android app, from Google Play, where information technology'due south just a 7MB download that runs on Android 4.0.3 and later. When y'all first run the app, it analyzes your installed apps to observe which you use nearly. It so asks you to confirm at least five of your near oftentimes used apps. On my test Samsung Galaxy S6, the TouchWiz selection from Samsung also shows upward in a panel as an option when I hit the dwelling house button; unless you want to take to brand this choice every fourth dimension you striking the button, you tin set Arrow as the default. If you're on a stock Android device, however, you won't run across TouchWiz every bit your other option, but rather a cleaner, more Arrow-like experience.

Interface

The interface is much simpler in one case Arrow is set upwardly. Though information technology maintains the left and right swiping from the home screen, Arrow takes the clever approach of surfacing your almost frequently used apps. All your favorite apps show up on the start folio, and swiping right takes you lot to your almost-contacted People. Another swipe takes you to Notes and Reminders, the next swipe after that leads to Widgets. Finally, one more swipe takes you lot to Recent, which includes things like recent photos shot. At the top of this last folio you encounter your most recently used five apps.

Arrow Android Launcher

Makes sense, doesn't it? After using Arrow, I started to wonder why the OS doesn't already piece of work like this, and why other launchers don't follow suit. Of course in that location are enough of other fantabulous Android launchers, such as 360, C, Cheetah, and Smart, but none of those lets you order icons automatically by the well-nigh frequently used apps. Most of them exercise offer more customization and larger views of the time and date, though. Merely Arrow'due south main goal is to reduce, rather than introduce, complication.

The heart All Apps push shows you alphabetized groupings of your apps. It's not quite every bit efficient equally Windows ten Mobile's alphabetical index, which lets you lot zip right to the letter that starts the proper name of the app y'all want. With Arrow you lot can also swipe up on the All Apps icon to reveal quick-admission items like Settings, Phone, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, Flashlight, Rotation Lock, Calendar, and whatever else yous choose to put there.

The People page, in addition to housing your contact list, lets you open the phone dialer. If you don't want any of Pointer's default pages, you lot can hide them using the Edit Pages option of the overflow carte.

Arrow Android Launcher Reminders

Though Arrow'south most noticeable change to Android is how it rearranges your app icons, widgets, and home pages, it also has its own Reminders feature. You can set a engagement and time for a reminder, but these are split up from the Google Now reminders—those won't appear on this page.

Customization

Pointer comes with numerous customization settings, such as checking for updates, unhiding apps you've subconscious from the home screen, and choosing custom backgrounds for the start screen, including the gorgeous daily photos from Bing. Y'all can besides select tertiary-party icon sets from the Play store. Additionally, you lot tin can access Android system settings from Arrow'south Settings every bit well every bit providing feedback to Arrow'southward developers.

A More Straightforward Android

The Arrow launcher makes using Android an easier experience. I notwithstanding prefer both iOS and Windows x Mobile smartphone interfaces, as both seem clearer and simpler. But Arrow does bestow some clarity and simplicity to the Android interface. For Android users wishing for a more helpful start screen, Arrow is definitely worth a endeavour.