Android Default-Launcher only uses one row for applications

Help Fairphone 5
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1

One thing that I find pretty annoying on my FP5 is how the launcher reacts when I try to start an app. (I haven’t been using stock Android for a while, so this might be an Android-issue itself.) It’s probably some setting, but I can’t figure it out on my own.

Here’s my issue:
Let’s say I want to launch the F-Droid store. What I would do is pull up the launcher (app-drawer? application-menu? whatever that UI element to launch apps from is called). For some annoying reason, my keyboard will not be opened, so I have to tap into the text field for it to load.

I’ll start typing “F” next (if I want to launch F-Droid).

Screenshot_20241206-110132
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This will bring up some(!) apps with “F” in their name, as expected.
However, it only shows five (one row), and leaves a lot of space left.
(N.b. I don’t know why these five are shown.)

Only when I type “F-” (which forces me to get the second-level character “-” on my keyboard), I will finally be able to launch the app I was searching for.

Screenshot_20241206-110159
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I find this absurdly complicated.
And it happens every time I want to launch an app with a name for which more than five apps are on the device.
Even though there is plenty of real-estate in the launcher left, only “used” for white space.

So what I’d like to have is

  • The “search” bar being in focus when I start the launcher; and the keyboard ready.
  • The launcher using all available space (i.e. 4-5 rows, 20-25 app icons) to show apps matching my input.

Coming from Gnome DE (on desktop), this is what they have been doing for ages with their launcher, and it works pretty well.
KDE’s launcher also follows this idea.

Is there a way to configure that?
I don’t want to exchange my launcher app, but “I am able to start an app without several gestures, clicking, typing, using multiple layers of my keyboard and regularly checking in between if I made a mistake” a pretty hard requirement for me …

1 Like
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The Launcher consists of a home-screen and appdrawer. Usually you drag your favorites apps from the app-drawer to the home-screen for quick access (similiar to windows 10/11 start menu). If you prefer to search for every app you open (for some reason) I suggest you search for “launcher” on fdroid, there are a few available that are meant to be used like that.

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I never search thus I never noticed. On my A14 Tablet its different, it shows more Apps and in addition has a “search more apps” button at the bottom. However on the FP4 with A13 its the same as on the FP5… Only way to get rid is modt likely another launcher?

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I do get the point and F-Droid seems to be an extreme example with the dash in its name. A workaround for this particular app to avoid having to get the dash would be searching for “Droid” which in my case brings up F-Droid in the very first place.
On the other hand the number of apps on my phone is small enough that quickly scrolling to whatever I want kept me from using the search until now.

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BTW: what’s the name of this Android default launcher in the App Store (I use e/OS/ and am not happy with the BLISS launcher).

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The FPOS stock launcher is Quickstep

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hi @pbiel

thank you for posting, I do agree with you.

i don’t like the original FP5 launcher or i need to say i dont like the way android apps are displayed.

it will be e great plus if it becomes possible to set up the keyboard to automatically launche

i dit install Olauncher much easier and faster to use.

i didn’t experienced the problem of the limit amount of apps displayed on the original launcher.

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Tru, good way.
i think your right it was made to use it exactly like you are explaining.

same moment its something personal, wat you prefer or like more, on windows you get multiple options. android. its more like take it or leef it. only option to install a different lounger. i think that’s a bit strange.

will it not be nice to have some options in the original lounger?

a example, this is my way on windows 7/10/11:

i do remove all buttons and apps how are unwanted installed by Microsoft and only use the keyboard.
my desktop is empty. dit remove the trash can as well.

windows key/ fust 3 letters of the app and enter.
inside the app window i use the mouse again.

little bit like the way on the very old computers.

same way als i do on Android. except the windows key😂

a different approach.

@pbiel wat is your’s?!

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on F-Droid

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Gottcha, but there are really no downsides to using another launcher. It integrates seamless with Android as long as it’s a well made launcher. Options are nice, but what gives you more options than replacing the entire thing with something that suites your style :slight_smile:

OT: I use a heavily extended Gnome Desktop Environment on PC to make it perfectly fit my style :smiley: soooo, I can relate to you, hehe.

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