Google, please make Pixel Launcher backups a actuality

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

Whereas I’ve beforehand written about how Pixel Launcher’s give attention to minimalism has diminished distractions and improved my workflow on my Pixel 8, the default Google residence 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 go well with everybody. My format of icons and widgets is explicit to my wants, and it’s important to have the ability to document and replicate this technique simply.

As I discussed within the introduction, I ceaselessly tinker with my residence display screen, contemplating varied implementations of icons and widgets. I get pleasure from attempting recent 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 usually change layouts. As a rule of thumb, saving the present design is at all times greatest earlier than shifting on to the following one. This offers peace of thoughts and lets me return to zero shortly and simply.

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

Importantly, this standalone file empowers customers. They will retailer it on a cloud service, residence server, second telephone, or share it with pals. Nova Launcher, for example, lets me save a number of format information, permitting me to tinker freely and revert to the earlier state every time I would like. Customers may even share their layouts, which provides the launcher a larger sense of group. All that’s required is the file itself and another third-party knowledge it might want (akin to a customized icon pack or widgets). Nevertheless, in case you wade via Pixel Launcher’s comparatively shallow settings, it at present presents no manner of making a standalone format backup file.

Very similar to throughout a very adventurous Skyrim playthrough, I favor having a number of save information available if I alter 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 residence app.

At this level, I do wish to spotlight that Pixel Launcher knowledge is saved, however solely via Google’s broader system backup system. Head to Settings > System > Backup, faucet Again up now, and your knowledge will likely 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 telephone’s general backup, extracting a separate launcher format file turns into virtually inconceivable. 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 person’s residence display screen format is included in its backups. There’s no documentation inside the settings app or on its varied assist pages on-line.

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

Think about the advantages for much less tech-savvy customers, too. Think about if one among my dad and mom 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 remedy this downside in a heartbeat.

Sure, these customers craving extra management may simply swap to a third-party launcher, however I don’t take into account 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 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 based mostly on photographs slightly than robotically apply it via a file. The latter is way much less more likely to make an error than I’m.

Finally, the dearth of a devoted backup system is only one downside 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 boundaries of their telephones’ designs and people who wouldn’t even comprehend it’s all that necessary till they require it. I believe it’s excessive time that Google significantly considers plugging this hole.