Download: Android 8.0 Oreo Pixel Launcher Port For Any Device

by Sameed Khan · August 27, 2017

The final build of Android 8.0 “Oreo” has been out for a while now, which means most of those who own a device Google’s Nexus line are most likely already running the latest iteration or will be in the near future. Those with devices from other OEMs will, as usual, be left wondering when they’ll be able to get a taste of the cookie-flavored update, if ever.

While this fragmentation can be cause for frustration, Android’s inherent flexibility does mostly manage to compensate for it, at least partially. While you may not be able to experience Android Oreo in all its glory, you may be able to get a taste of the update by installing the latest version of Google’s Pixel Launcher on your device, completely replacing your homescreen with the look and feel of the update.

Not all devices are compatible with the homescreen replacement, however, as unlike Google Now Launcher, it requires Android 5.0 or above to run. Those with older, incompatible devices needn’t feel left out, though, as they’ll find a worthy, if not prefered, alternative in developer Amir Zaidi’s rootless, Launcher3-based Pixel Launcher port, which was recently updated with Oreo-exclusive features and a slew of miscellaneous improvements.

Below, you’ll find a link to the its APK and, for those unfamiliar with the process of sideloading apps on Android, a simple guide on how to install the launcher on your device.

1. Download the latest version of the Pixel Launcher port (v2.1 as of this writing) directly to your Android device from this GitHub page.

2. Navigate to Settings > Security and enable the Unknown Sources option.

3. Launch the Downloads app, select the APK file you just downloaded and hit Install.

Note: If your device has a previous version of Pixel Launcher installed, you will have to uninstall it to sideload the port as both have the same package name.

4. Once installation is complete, hit the Home button and select Launcher3 from the list of apps that appear. You may hit the Home button again and select Always to set it as your default launcher.

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