Pixel Launcher

The home screen experience for the Pixel and Pixel XL phones by Google.

Google Inc. · com.google.android.apps.nexuslauncher

3.2 out of 5 (130 ratings) 1+ downloads v16 15.4 MB Android 16+ PEGI 3 · Everyone

Download APK 15.4 MB All versions

Same certificate as the 4 other versions checked Details

At a glance

Latest version: v16 (907)
Updated: Jun 23, 2026 (4 months ago)
APK size: 15.4 MB
Requires: Android 16+ (API 36)
CPU support: Any (no native code)
Graphics: OpenGL ES 2.0+
Category: Tools (app)
Listed since: Oct 21, 2016 (at least)
Permissions: 55 (4 sensitive)
Website: google.com/mobile/android
Developer contact: [email protected]
Privacy: Developer's privacy policy

About this APK

Pixel Launcher is an app by Google Inc. in the Tools category, listed since at least October 2016. It has no native code, so it runs on any Android processor.

Since version 7.1.1-3862848, the APK grew from 2.4 MB to 15.4 MB and the minimum Android version rose from 5.0 to 16. It asks for 55 permissions, 4 of them sensitive, including call phone, access all files and read shared storage. Compared with version 10, it adds 34 new permissions (“Access all files”, “See all installed apps”, “Access contextual search” and 31 more) and drops 2 (“Read phone status and identity” and “Modify shared storage”).

Ratings

3.2out of 5130 ratings

5 ★45%
4 ★4%
3 ★11%
2 ★4%
1 ★36%

Ratings from users of the source store — not collected or verified by AAPKs.

What's new in v16

As of October 2016: • The weather appears in the top-right corner for your current location • Visual refresh of wallpaper picker • New circular folder presentation • Shortcuts on long-press of supporting apps

Description

From the listing uploaded by “nelcas”.

Pixel Launcher is the home screen experience for the Pixel and Pixel XL phones by Google. Personalised information from Google is just a swipe away. Key features: • Swipe right from your home screen to see personalised Google cards that bring you news and personalised information, at just the right time. • Quick access to Google Search on your primary home screen. • Swipe up on the bottom Favourites row to find your apps from A-Z. • App Suggestions bring the app you’re looking for to the top of your A-Z list. • Long-press on apps that support shortcuts to jump straight to where you need to go or long-press on the shortcuts to drag them to the home screen.

Version history

7 versions are listed; the oldest rated Trusted is v7.1.1-3862848. Since v16 it requires Android 16+.

v16 LATEST Jun 23, 2026 15.4 MB TRUSTED v14 Apr 19, 2026 13.2 MB TRUSTED v10 Apr 30, 2026 7.3 MB TRUSTED vQ-4753642 May 8, 2018 4 MB TRUSTED v7.1.1-3862848 Jul 19, 2017 2.4 MB TRUSTED

All 7 versions

Security & authenticity

Security rating: Trusted

Signing certificate

Certificate issued to “Google Inc.” The developer's name — though anyone can put any name in a certificate.
Same certificate as the 4 other versions checked

Store checks and file details

Developer signature verified Jun 23, 2026
Signed byCN=nexuslauncher, OU=Android, O=Google Inc., L=Mountain View, ST=California, C=US
Signing certificate (SHA-1)76:F0:8A:2F:B0:22:6D:83:E5:E3:24:2F:3C:E8:D4:5A:59:DC:AA:CB
File MD5961768be3558268c4d7701685e894419
Uploaded by “nelcas” 549 followers · uploading since 2025

Scans and ratings come from the source store; the certificate comparisons are AAPKs's own, made from the files' published signatures (4 other versions compared). AAPKs doesn't scan files itself — compare the MD5 and signer after downloading.

Permissions (55)

Pixel Launcher requests 55 permissions, 4 of them sensitive.

Access all files Sensitive android.permission.MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
Call phone Sensitive android.permission.CALL_PHONE
Read shared storage Sensitive android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
See all installed apps Sensitive android.permission.QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES
Access contextual search android.permission.ACCESS_CONTEXTUAL_SEARCH
Access hidden profiles full android.permission.ACCESS_HIDDEN_PROFILES_FULL
Access shortcuts android.permission.ACCESS_SHORTCUTS
Allow slippery touches android.permission.ALLOW_SLIPPERY_TOUCHES
Bind appwidget android.permission.BIND_APPWIDGET
Bind quick settings tile android.permission.BIND_QUICK_SETTINGS_TILE
Bind service (custom) com.google.android.apps.miphone.aiai.matchmaker.overview.service.BIND_SERVICE
Broadcast close system dialogs android.permission.BROADCAST_CLOSE_SYSTEM_DIALOGS
Change wifi state android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE
Control remote app transition animations android.permission.CONTROL_REMOTE_APP_TRANSITION_ANIMATIONS
Control vibration android.permission.VIBRATE
Expand status bar android.permission.EXPAND_STATUS_BAR
Finsky dse (custom) com.google.android.finsky.permission.DSE
Get top activity info android.permission.GET_TOP_ACTIVITY_INFO
Internal broadcast protection (app-defined) com.google.android.apps.nexuslauncher.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
Internal system window android.permission.INTERNAL_SYSTEM_WINDOW
Launcher read settings (custom) com.google.android.launcher.permission.READ_SETTINGS
Lock apps android.permission.LOCK_APPS
Manage accessibility android.permission.MANAGE_ACCESSIBILITY
Manage activity tasks android.permission.MANAGE_ACTIVITY_TASKS
Manage key gestures android.permission.MANAGE_KEY_GESTURES
Monitor input android.permission.MONITOR_INPUT
Nexuslauncher grid control (custom) com.google.android.apps.nexuslauncher.permission.GRID_CONTROL
Nexuslauncher hotseat edu (custom) com.google.android.apps.nexuslauncher.permission.HOTSEAT_EDU
Nexuslauncher qsb (custom) com.google.android.apps.nexuslauncher.permission.QSB
Read device config android.permission.READ_DEVICE_CONFIG
Read frame buffer android.permission.READ_FRAME_BUFFER
Read remote tasks android.permission.READ_REMOTE_TASKS
Read search indexables android.permission.READ_SEARCH_INDEXABLES
Register stats pull atom android.permission.REGISTER_STATS_PULL_ATOM
Remove tasks android.permission.REMOVE_TASKS
Request delete packages android.permission.REQUEST_DELETE_PACKAGES
Request task handoff android.permission.REQUEST_TASK_HANDOFF
Rotate surface flinger android.permission.ROTATE_SURFACE_FLINGER
Run at startup android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED
Set orientation android.permission.SET_ORIENTATION
Set unrestricted keep clear areas android.permission.SET_UNRESTRICTED_KEEP_CLEAR_AREAS
Set wallpaper android.permission.SET_WALLPAPER
Set wallpaper hints android.permission.SET_WALLPAPER_HINTS
Show notifications android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS
Start tasks from recents android.permission.START_TASKS_FROM_RECENTS
Status bar android.permission.STATUS_BAR
Status bar service android.permission.STATUS_BAR_SERVICE
Stop app switches android.permission.STOP_APP_SWITCHES
Suggestion consumer (custom) com.google.android.as.allapps.SUGGESTION_CONSUMER
System application overlay android.permission.SYSTEM_APPLICATION_OVERLAY
View instant apps android.permission.VIEW_INSTANT_APPS
View network connections android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
Wakeup surface flinger android.permission.WAKEUP_SURFACE_FLINGER
Wallpaper recent wallpapers provider (custom) com.google.android.apps.wallpaper.permission.RECENT_WALLPAPERS_PROVIDER
Write secure settings android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

Required hardware & features

Basic touch input android.hardware.faketouch
Telephony (SIM) android.hardware.telephony
Wi-Fi android.hardware.wifi
Feature pixel experience com.google.android.feature.PIXEL_EXPERIENCE

Pixel Launcher APK: questions and answers

Is there a version of Pixel Launcher for older Android phones?

The current version needs Android 16 or later. Version 10 is the newest listed build that installs on Android 10 and later. Get version 10 · All versions

Can I install this APK over the version I already have?

Only if it is signed with the same certificate as the copy on your phone and isn't an older version. If Android says “App not installed”, the certificates differ; uninstalling your copy first works but deletes its data unless it is backed up.

Is the Pixel Launcher APK safe?

No one can promise that a file is safe, but some things can be checked. The source store rates this file Trusted. It is signed with the same certificate as the 4 other versions checked. After downloading, check that the file's MD5 is 961768be3558268c4d7701685e894419.