Start

Make your phone yours! Get the news you care about whenever you wake your phone

Celltick · com.celltick.lockscreen

4.1 out of 5 (42 ratings) 100M+ downloads v7.5.3 24.5 MB Android 9+ PEGI 3 · Everyone

Download APK 24.5 MB All versions

Signature matches the Google Play version Details

At a glance

Latest version: v7.5.3 (7503)
Updated: Sep 2, 2026 (1 month ago)
APK size: 24.5 MB
Requires: Android 9+ (API 28)
CPU support: x86 32-bit, x86 64-bit, ARM 32-bit, ARM 64-bit
Category: Personalization (app)
Listed since: Sep 8, 2012
Permissions: 37 (3 sensitive)
Website: startscreen.com
Developer contact: [email protected]
Privacy: Developer's privacy policy

About this APK

Start is an app by Celltick in the Personalization category, listed since September 2012. It includes native code for x86 32-bit, x86 64-bit, ARM 32-bit and ARM 64-bit, so it runs on practically every phone.

Since version 7.5.1, the APK grew from 16.5 MB to 24.5 MB. Since version 6.1.5, the minimum Android version rose from 5.0 to 9. It asks for 37 permissions, 3 of them sensitive: read shared storage, display over other apps and write settings. It asks for the same permissions as version 7.5.2. The app can read the advertising ID that ad and analytics services use.

Ratings

4.1out of 542 ratings

5 ★64%
4 ★2%
3 ★21%
2 ★2%
1 ★10%

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

What's new in v7.5.3

- Added live wallpaper - Performance improvements - Bug fixes - Android 15 support

Description

From the listing uploaded by “appupdater”.

All the news and videos that matter to you, from the Start -- no more menus or multiple steps to find what’s new. Start is jam-packed with great features: ✔ Start Magazine - You'r one destination for all content in a variety of topics: news, sports, entertainment, business, technology and the newest viral videos. ✔ HUGE Wallpaper Gallery - Choose from a large variety of free wallpapers and backgrounds and make your phone unique. ✔ Music Player - Listen to your music and create playlists for every mood. ✔ Weather - Instant access to weather updates in your location. ✔ Selfie - Selfies have never been easier. Take a selfie picture right from the Utilities Starter. ✔ Smart Search - Whether you’re searching for apps, contacts, or within the web - do it all from your home screen. ✔ Social Networks - all your friends are right here in one screen. ✔ Start Caller ID- identify calls from unknown numbers the second you receive them. No more number guessing or avoiding Know who you’re talking to. ✔ Notifications Manager - with Start, your important notifications are always shown first. Please visit our Terms of Service at https://www.taboola.com/policies/taboola-terms-of-use-start-magazine and Privacy Policy https://www.taboola.com/policies/privacy-policy-start-magazine before accessing or using Start. Start is intended for individuals 18 years of age or older.

Version history

4 versions are listed, going back to v6.1.5. Since v7.5.2 it requires Android 9+.

v7.5.3 LATEST Sep 2, 2026 24.5 MB TRUSTED v7.5.2 Aug 30, 2026 24.5 MB TRUSTED v7.5.1 Sep 8, 2026 16.5 MB TRUSTED v6.1.5 Nov 8, 2025 13.7 MB TRUSTED

All 4 versions

Start among popular Personalization apps

Start is one of the 36 most downloaded apps in our Personalization category.

Start and the Personalization apps ranked next to it by downloads
App	Rating	Downloads	Download size
myIM3 Buy & Check IM3 Data	4.3 (38)	100M+	57 MB
Neon Love Themes	–	100M+	5.9 MB
Start (this app)	4.1 (42)	100M+	24.5 MB
Backgrounds HD (Wallpapers)	4.6 (88)	100M+	–
Wallcraft: 4K Wallpaper Live	4.9 (46)	100M+	60.2 MB

Apps listed next to it in our Personalization ranking by downloads (pre-installed system apps left out). Ratings and download counts come from the source store; ratings with fewer than five votes and sizes of outdated listings aren't shown.

Security & authenticity

Security rating: Trusted

Signing certificate

Signature matches the Google Play version Checked by the source store on Sep 2, 2026.
Certificate issued to “Mobile Lock Labs” This is the certificate of the Google Play version.
Same certificate as the 2 other versions checked

Store checks and file details

Developer signature not checked yet Sep 2, 2026
Validated against Google Play Sep 2, 2026
Signed byCN=Tzachi Baumgarten, OU=operations, O=Mobile Lock Labs, L=Herzelia, ST=Hashron, C=972
Signing certificate (SHA-1)5E:D8:45:94:00:C6:83:6F:9D:94:6E:C9:40:01:1E:42:CF:07:41:43
File MD5dbab40a4a5c9e2b49b3e33bbf72315a9
Uploaded by “appupdater” Gold tier · 117,810 followers · uploading since 2020

Scans and ratings come from the source store; the certificate comparisons are AAPKs's own, made from the files' published signatures (2 other versions compared). AAPKs doesn't scan files itself — compare the MD5 and signer after downloading.

Permissions (37)

Start requests 37 permissions, 3 of them sensitive.

Display over other apps Sensitive android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW
Read shared storage Sensitive android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
Write settings Sensitive android.permission.WRITE_SETTINGS
Access adservices ad id android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID
Access adservices attribution android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION
Access adservices topics android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_TOPICS
Access notification policy android.permission.ACCESS_NOTIFICATION_POLICY
Activity start capture plus (custom) com.lge.qmemoplus.activity.permission.START_CAPTURE_PLUS
Advertising ID com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID
Bluetooth android.permission.BLUETOOTH
Bluetooth admin android.permission.BLUETOOTH_ADMIN
Change wifi state android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE
Control vibration android.permission.VIBRATE
Disable keyguard android.permission.DISABLE_KEYGUARD
Foreground service special use android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SPECIAL_USE
Full network access android.permission.INTERNET
Gallery3d gallery provider (custom) com.google.android.gallery3d.permission.GALLERY_PROVIDER
Google Play install referrer com.google.android.finsky.permission.BIND_GET_INSTALL_REFERRER_SERVICE
Internal broadcast protection (app-defined) com.celltick.lockscreen.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
Kill background processes android.permission.KILL_BACKGROUND_PROCESSES
Lockscreen checkappstatus (custom) com.celltick.lockscreen.permission.CheckAppStatus
Lockscreen control (custom) com.celltick.lockscreen.permission.CONTROL
Lockscreen delayed activation (custom) com.celltick.lockscreen.permission.DELAYED_ACTIVATION
Prevent the device from sleeping android.permission.WAKE_LOCK
Push messaging (app-defined) com.celltick.lockscreen.permission.C2D_MESSAGE
Read Google service settings com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES
Receive push notifications com.google.android.c2dm.permission.RECEIVE
Run at startup android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED
Run foreground services android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE
Show notifications android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS
Start activities from background android.permission.START_ACTIVITIES_FROM_BACKGROUND
Stop app switches android.permission.STOP_APP_SWITCHES
Use biometric hardware android.permission.USE_BIOMETRIC
Use fingerprint hardware android.permission.USE_FINGERPRINT
View Wi-Fi connections android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE
View network connections android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
Write secure settings android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

Required hardware & features

Bluetooth android.hardware.bluetooth
Basic touch input android.hardware.faketouch
Portrait screen android.hardware.screen.portrait
Wi-Fi android.hardware.wifi

Start APK: questions and answers

Is there a version of Start for older Android phones?

The current version needs Android 9 or later. Version 7.5.1 is the newest listed build that installs on Android 7.0 and later. Get version 7.5.1 · All versions

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

Yes, if your installed copy is older. It is signed like the Google Play version, so Android installs it as an update and keeps your data.

Is the Start APK safe?

No one can promise that a file is safe, but some things can be checked. The source store rates this file Trusted. Its signature matches the Google Play version. It is signed with the same certificate as the 2 other versions checked. After downloading, check that the file's MD5 is dbab40a4a5c9e2b49b3e33bbf72315a9.