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Draft:Niagara Launcher

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  • Comment: gptzero says 100% AI generated. Theroadislong (talk) 21:13, 18 August 2026 (UTC)
  • Comment: You asked me to take a look. Androidpolice is not a source we accept. Some others are not as reliable as we would wsh. Anything that smells like a blog is a blog, for example 🇵🇸‍🇺🇦 FiddleTimtrent FaddleTalk to me 🇺🇦‍🇵🇸 20:32, 18 August 2026 (UTC)
  • Comment: We require references from significant coverage about the topic of the article, and independent of it, in multiple secondary sources which are WP:RS please. See WP:42. Please also see WP:PRIMARY which details the limited permitted usage of primary sources and WP:SELFPUB which has clear limitations on self published sources. Providing sufficient references, ideally one per fact referred to, that meet these tough criteria is likely to allow this article to remain. Lack of them or an inability to find them is likely to mean that the topic is not suitable for inclusion, certainly today. 🇵🇸‍🇺🇦 FiddleTimtrent FaddleTalk to me 🇺🇦‍🇵🇸 13:24, 12 August 2026 (UTC)

Niagara Launcher
DeveloperMellowdrop GmbH
ReleaseSeptember 2018 (beta)
Operating systemAndroid
TypeHome screen application
LicenseProprietary
Websitehttps://niagaralauncher.com

Niagara Launcher is a home screen replacement app for Android. Instead of a grid of icons, it shows a short list of user-selected apps and an alphabetical index along the screen edge for reaching all other apps with one hand.[1][2] It is developed by Mellowdrop GmbH, a company based in Augsburg, Germany.[3] Released as a beta in 2018 and as a stable version in 2021, it is distributed as freemium software, with a free tier that carries no advertising.[4][5]

History

[edit]

The launcher grew out of a flashlight app that Peter Huber began developing in 2016 as a student; Huber later hired fellow students to work on the launcher.[6][7] A public beta was released in September 2018.[2] The app left beta in February 2021, after gaining more than one million installations during early access.[4][8]

In November 2022, an account system called Niagara ID made the paid version purchasable outside Google Play, including on devices without Google services, while purchases through Google Play remained possible.[9] In January 2026, Clicks Technology announced that it had worked with the Niagara Launcher team on the software interface of the Clicks Communicator, a keyboard phone shown at CES.[10] In April 2026, the developers introduced Mellowdrop Studio as the brand name behind the app.[11]

Features

[edit]

The home screen combines a favorites list, a stack of widgets at the top, and notifications shown next to the app that produced them.[1][2] A 2021 update brought wallpaper-based dynamic theming in the style of Material You to devices running Android 5 and later.[12][13] The 2022 "Spring Update" added integration with Android's Digital Wellbeing data to identify frequently used apps and suggest hiding rarely used favorites.[14] In 2023, the app added Anycons, an icon pack that applies Material You theming to icons of apps that do not support it.[15] A theming editor called Theme Studio, released in 2026, lets users build and share themes covering wallpapers, icons, clocks, and fonts.[16]

The base version is free and contains no advertising; a paid tier unlocks additional features.[5]

Reception

[edit]

Reviewers assessing launchers for large and foldable phones have highlighted the vertical layout, which keeps apps within thumb reach.[17][18] Writing in GameStar, Duy Linh Dinh described using the launcher's reduced home screen to spend less time on his phone.[19] Coverage has also noted limitations: the launcher provides fewer visual and layout options than other third-party launchers,[20] and its alphabetical list is less helpful for finding apps whose names the user does not recall.[21] Several reviewers noted an adjustment period before the list-based layout becomes familiar.[17][8] The app has appeared in launcher recommendation lists from Tom's Guide and other outlets.[20]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 Raphael, JR (11 September 2018). "A standout new Android launcher for ergonomic efficiency". Computerworld.
  2. 1 2 3 "Niagara Launcher is a minimalist launcher that integrates with your notifications". XDA Developers. 6 September 2018.
  3. ↑ Johannsen, Jan (5 February 2026). "Diese Android-Launcher machen dein Smartphone besser und schöner". Galaxus (in German).
  4. 1 2 Mehrotra, Pranob (2 February 2021). "Niagara Launcher is a fresh take on the Android home screen, and it's now out of beta". XDA Developers.
  5. 1 2 "I switched to the Niagara Android launcher and haven't looked back". Pocket-lint. 21 August 2024.
  6. ↑ Mathur, Chandraveer (24 September 2024). "Peter Huber, creator of Niagara Launcher, talks Android launchers with AP". Android Police.
  7. ↑ Sattelberg, Will (6 July 2026). "The Sideload 038: Niagara Launcher, ten years in with Peter Huber". 9to5Google (Podcast).
  8. 1 2 Parikh, Prasham (2 February 2021). "Hands-on: The minimalist Niagara Launcher is officially out of beta". Android Police.
  9. ↑ Pandey, Rajesh (4 November 2022). "Niagara Launcher Pro decouples from Google Play, now on all Android phones". Android Police.
  10. ↑ "Hands-on with a prototype of Clicks' Communicator, a new BlackBerry-like smartphone". TechCrunch. 8 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "This popular Android launcher got a major customization overhaul". Android Authority. 16 April 2026.
  12. ↑ Wang, Jules (7 December 2021). "Niagara Launcher brings Material You theming to your phone, even without Android 12". Android Police.
  13. ↑ Bennett, Brad (7 December 2021). "Niagara Launcher's latest update adds new Android 12 features". MobileSyrup.
  14. ↑ Wilde, Damien (28 March 2022). "Niagara Launcher 'Spring Update' adds deeper Digital Wellbeing integration, more". 9to5Google.
  15. ↑ Schoon, Ben (14 November 2023). "Niagara Launcher adding 'Anycon,' which applies Material You icon theming to all apps". 9to5Google.
  16. ↑ Fedewa, Joe (16 April 2026). ""Theme Studio" is the customization tool Niagara Launcher users have been waiting for". How-To Geek.
  17. 1 2 Fedewa, Joe (14 February 2022). "Niagara Launcher Is the Best Android Launcher for Big Phones". How-To Geek.
  18. ↑ Hager, Ryne (29 December 2021). "Niagara Launcher is your best choice for a tall or folding phone". Android Police.
  19. ↑ Dinh, Duy Linh (29 January 2026). "Mit ausgerechnet einer App sage ich Doom-Scrolling den Kampf an". GameStar (in German).
  20. 1 2 Pritchard, Tom (24 January 2025). "Best Android launchers in 2025". Tom's Guide. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  21. ↑ Naskar, Rahul (13 July 2026). "I thought Niagara Launcher was unbeatable until I gave another launcher a chance". Android Police.
[edit]

Category:Android (operating system) software Category:2018 software

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