[q] Alternative launchers = lost TW functionality? - Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Do I use any special TouchWiz features if I use an alternative launcher, like Lightning Launcher?
And if not, would that still be the case if I froze or remover TW Launcher all together?

impactor said:
Do I use any special TouchWiz features if I use an alternative launcher, like Lightning Launcher?
And if not, would that still be the case if I froze or remover TW Launcher all together?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
don't know much about it, but for sure I can tell you that you'll lose the accuweather widget..if you can live without it, then you are free to try different launchers.. I suggest you to use Nova Launcher
p.s. obviously if you haven't deactived TW, when you'll use it again you will be able to use the accuweather widget again

I don't care about widgets. I only care whether there is some phone, rom or camera functionality that I lose.

You will not loose any features. Just try an alternative launcher and if you are not happy with it then deinstall it.
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Related

[Q] When I'm rooted can I remove Touchwiz?

Is there a simple way to remove touchwiz from Samsung Galaxy S4? Can it just be lifted out/off somehow so that the handset is left just running Android on it's own?
Thanks in advance
haha no - only way would be to flash cyanogenmod, however that has yet to be developed for the s4
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
flipflop104 said:
Is there a simple way to remove touchwiz from Samsung Galaxy S4? Can it just be lifted out/off somehow so that the handset is left just running Android on it's own?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
beaver2233 is correct. Touchwiz isn't just a launcher, its a complete framework including all the samsung apps and system customizations. Its pretty ingrained with the android os. The easy way to remove it is to flash a custom AOSP/CM/AOKP etc rom which is generally built from the ground up from source.
Shame, thanks guys
Are you saying that we can't put something like Apex Launcher on the S4?
ilabs said:
beaver2233 is correct. Touchwiz isn't just a launcher, its a complete framework including all the samsung apps and system customizations. Its pretty ingrained with the android os. The easy way to remove it is to flash a custom AOSP/CM/AOKP etc rom which is generally built from the ground up from source.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.....which will happen in due time!
deserthi said:
Are you saying that we can't put something like Apex Launcher on the S4?
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Click to collapse
TouchWiz is the entire skin that Samsung puts on Android. As others have said, it is deeply integrated into Android, removing a lot of the things in stock Android. One part of TouchWiz is the launcher, which can easily be replaced. However, you are still left with the rest of TouchWiz, such as the dialer, messaging, settings, and contacts apps, the framework, many default widgets, lockscreen, and more.
It might be worth mentioning that if you went the route of removing TouchWiz by installing Cyanogen for example, you'd lose all the Samsung features like Smart stay, Smart pause, Smart scroll, Air view, Air gestures, IR Remote control, and a few more. I realize that a lot of people don't care about these features, but some people (like me) bought the phone for that reason and might miss them after the switch to AOSP
My Galaxy Nexus is my AOSP phone, my Galaxy S4 is my 'Samsung' phone
You might be happy with just a different launcher. Try Nova
deserthi said:
Are you saying that we can't put something like Apex Launcher on the S4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got Apex Launcher on mine - it automatically appeared when I restored all my apps via google (had it with JellyBam ROM on previous SGSII). And it seems to work. I keep getting the Apex Launcher and Touchwiz Home options of "Always" or "just once" everytime I hit the home key as I've not decided which to go with yet.
prodigyX said:
It might be worth mentioning that if you went the route of removing TouchWiz by installing Cyanogen for example, you'd lose all the Samsung features like Smart stay, Smart pause, Smart scroll, Air view, Air gestures, IR Remote control, and a few more. I realize that a lot of people don't care about these features, but some people (like me) bought the phone for that reason and might miss them after the switch to AOSP
My Galaxy Nexus is my AOSP phone, my Galaxy S4 is my 'Samsung' phone
You might be happy with just a different launcher. Try Nova
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow thanks. I didn't realise that. Looks like I will be sticking with TouchWiz and trying a different launcher. Will try Nova, ta, as I've seen it mentioned before. :highfive:
use other launcher
Same bs answers as usual
1. Root phone
2. Install Clockwork mod recovery
3. Make a backup of the current stock rom to an external sd card for safe measures
4. Reboot and download Titanium Backup app
5. Then download your favorite launcher (Go Launcher is the best I have found)
6. Make Go launcher default launcher (option should popup when you press the home key)
7. Open Titanium backup and Make a backup of touchwiz then press clear app data then press uninstall
The launcher you choose will now stand alone. That's if the S4 works like the S3. I doubt there is much of a difference in this case. If things go sideways, just restore your ROM backup
How to kick a dead horse... :laugh:
touchwiz removed
flipflop104 said:
Is there a simple way to remove touchwiz from Samsung Galaxy S4? Can it just be lifted out/off somehow so that the handset is left just running Android on it's own?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can remove touchwiz with titanium bkup like i did but ruined my phone which im yet to get help how to fix it

Widget Disappearing on Alternate Launchers?

So I decided to upgrade to Soundhound plus, in large part because of the 1x1 ID Now widget. I can deploy this without issue when using the stock Touchwiz Launcher. For some strange reason, I cannot use it with other launchers, so far having tried Go Launcher and Nova Launcher. In each case, the widget list only shows the other (4x1, non-auto-start) Soundhound widget, not the ID Now one I want. This, of course, is an issue, because I want to make use of ID now, but I also really want to switch to a better launcher, one that will allow me to put more content on each homescreen.
Thoughts?
EDIT: A related problem: Pandora widget works in stock launcher but not Nova launcher.
Some widgets are only built for selected launchers. For example the AccuWeather widget only works on touchwiz launcher. And won't work if you use a third party launcher.
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Try Apex Launcher it works perfectly for me. Never had one single problem with widgets on Apex Launcher yet.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
stereo386 said:
Try Apex Launcher it works perfectly for me. Never had one single problem with widgets on Apex Launcher yet.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly what I wound up doing. Loving Apex so far.
beerindex said:
So I decided to upgrade to Soundhound plus, in large part because of the 1x1 ID Now widget. I can deploy this without issue when using the stock Touchwiz Launcher. For some strange reason, I cannot use it with other launchers, so far having tried Go Launcher and Nova Launcher. In each case, the widget list only shows the other (4x1, non-auto-start) Soundhound widget, not the ID Now one I want. This, of course, is an issue, because I want to make use of ID now, but I also really want to switch to a better launcher, one that will allow me to put more content on each homescreen.
Thoughts?
EDIT: A related problem: Pandora widget works in stock launcher but not Nova launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't find it in Go Launcher (and possibly others) because it's a "Shortcut" and not a widget. I have Go Launcher and ID Now is under Shortcuts .

APUS Launcher / Best NO-APK-DRAWER launcher

APUS Launcher
- small
- fast
- no apk drawer (like MIUI and iOS)
- widget support
- inegrated notification toolbar
- wallpaper blur
- quick settings
- smart folders
- Apus wallpapers
- swipe to switch folders
- photo story
UPDATE: APUS v1.3.3 Update
1.APUS Wallpaper, providing beautiful, high quality and free wallpapers.
2.Swipe to switch different folders, improved efficiency of opening apps.
3.APUS Tools supported. You can easy to launch useful tools.
4.Apps in folder can be sorted by alphabetical or use frequency.
5.Arabic, German, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Thai, Italian, Vietnamese supported.
IMO this is best launcher without apk-drawer on Playstore
chekit out
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apusapps.launcher&hl=en
I don't find any reason for accessing internet with a time gap even when the recommended apps list is off. And by killing the background apps completely you can boost any launcher. So nothing special.
I switched to it. Had to turn app recommend off. Was using nova prime like everyone bit fed up with tinkering and the space all those custom packs take up
Y would you want to make your phone like an iPhone?
Sent from my Android L Nexus 5 via Tapatalk
it'a cool launcher... really small and fast
i hope they will improve wallpapers application and few things
i like custom quick settings menu, it's very useful because on stock rom You can use the torch and the rotation tile for example
Ben36 said:
Y would you want to make your phone like an iPhone?
Sent from my Android L Nexus 5 via Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Because Nexus
Ben36 said:
Y would you want to make your phone like an iPhone?
Sent from my Android L Nexus 5 via Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why*
This is an ignorant statement.
Why would you make your phone like Ubuntu?
Why would you make your phone like Firefox?
Why would you make your phone like Windows?
Why would you make your phone like ChromeOS?
Because Android. That's why.
We can ultimately customize our phone to whatever degree we wish, why not take advantage of it?
Hi. Does anyone know how to uninstall the apus launcher? There is no uninstall option in the playstore, es file explorer deletes the file but the app generates it again and deactivating it from the settings doesnt work aswell it activates on its own. I would like to use the normal google launcher and delete all apps that i dont need.
Many thanks
chitt_chelios said:
Hi. Does anyone know how to uninstall the apus launcher? There is no uninstall option in the playstore, es file explorer deletes the file but the app generates it again and deactivating it from the settings doesnt work aswell it activates on its own. I would like to use the normal google launcher and delete all apps that i dont need.
Many thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uninstall it under settings.
I tried this launcher. Didn't look light and small. I still haven' find better launchers as apex or nova.
@Mario thanks but tried it all...wont work.
APUS
Cool!
Tried it, it was fast and snappy but I just couldn't get past the bloat,
Feedback,themes, wallpapers of Asian girls, and the other icons in the app draw, I removed many features in the settings to help.
If it was light without that stuff it would be great, I like nova and apex too much
republicano said:
Tried it, it was fast and snappy but I just couldn't get past the bloat,
Feedback,themes, wallpapers of Asian girls, and the other icons in the app draw, I removed many features in the settings to help.
If it was light without that stuff it would be great, I like nova and apex too much
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Click to collapse
Try the Nokia one. No bloat. Takes widget and icons. No app draw. Learns to prioritise the apps You use. Just saying...
zerosum0 said:
Try the Nokia one. No bloat. Takes widget and icons. No app draw. Learns to prioritise the apps You use. Just saying...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I second that .. The nokia z launcher is epic
Sendt fra min Nexus 5 med Tapatalk
ACOS Launcher is better
ACOS Launcher -Smallest, Fastest Launcher with Airdrop, boost, save more power & search easily.
Thanks!
Thanks for the support!

Touchwiz all apps button

Anyone knows if it is possible to change the location of the all apps button on the right side in touchwiz launcher to the center position?
I am used to having my all apps button in the center of the launcher. Can this be done by an xposed module?
Switch to a different launcher like Nova or Apex?
100x better than stock TW
*Detection* said:
Switch to a different launcher like Nova or Apex?
100x better than stock TW
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I like the touchwiz launcher, besides this minor customization option.
Not sure then, I imagine it would be an xposed job or a system file edit but couldn't tell you what
Looks like people have been trying with the S4 with no luck
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2365365

do you use different launcher or S8 Touchwiz launcher?

Do you use S8 Samsung experience or different launcher? if you use different launcher, which one? and why?
I've always used Nova. Has way more customization settings and I can mix and match different icon packs. The stock galaxy launcher just doesn't compete.
It looks like I am getting older, as on the S8 I do not use Nova, which I used since the days of HTC Sensation.
Using nova, love it. Can do a few of the things i lost without root & xposed.
Use nova now as with a few others my delete shorcut button when you hold your finger on an icon had stopped working.
Using Nova on every smartphone. Stock ones doesn't fit my needs.
I use Nova also. Stock launchers have too little options to customize.
I like stock. It has some functionality that Nova doesnt have (like multiple app cards even if they are not full, i.e. you can have a an app card for just one app if u want.) and ability to move any app icon anywhere. Nova is alphabetical only, and forces you to have folders at the very top.
I still use nova though.
Nova it is.
Nova prime on my every device
I have been using ActionLauncher3 for a few years and see myself continuing to use it for the foreseeable future.
I used Nova (Prime) on my S5, S6, and S7, but with the S8, I'm using the stock launcher. The reason I hated Touchwiz before was that the app drawer button couldn't be moved, but the new swipe up app drawer gesture on the S8 works for me.
holy jesus nova is popular for no reason, like its a stock launcher that you can change the icons on
I use lawn-chair from here https://github.com/deletescape-media/lawnchair
Open source and pretty good
i used Evie Launcher seems cool
I was using nova for a long time, but since s8 I'm staying with touchwiz, now I'm using modded touchwiz, it had some some features i was missing from nova like double tap to sleep, and has everything I need.
Pixel Launcher or TouchWiz
dannytgt said:
I was using nova for a long time, but since s8 I'm staying with touchwiz, now I'm using modded touchwiz, it had some some features i was missing from nova like double tap to sleep, and has everything I need.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this modded TouchWiz for root only?
timrock7 said:
holy jesus nova is popular for no reason, like its a stock launcher that you can change the icons on
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Click to collapse
I don't think you have a clue what Nova can actually do. Looks are deceiving. It still is one of the most powerful feature wise.
timrock7 said:
holy jesus nova is popular for no reason, like its a stock launcher that you can change the icons on
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
except you can easily remap gestures on the screen (with prime), customize notification labels (tesla), completely change look and feel of homescreen/app drawer/dock, add multiple dock pages, change margins, persistant search bar, overlap widgets, add folders to app drawer, stick dock to the top, backup settings and import on different devices. did i forgot something?
i think you are right, theres no reason for it to be popular, it's like a stock launcher.

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