Nova Launcher's future in doubt after last remaining dev quits project

Nova Launcher is arguably one of the most recognizable names in the world of Android customization. It is a home screen replacement that gives users deep control over their device's look and feel, with a "Prime" paid version that unlocks extra features. Now, founder Kevin Barry has left the project after its parent company, Branch, told him to stop his work.

The project was started by Kevin Barry and has been available since 2011, making it a veteran of the platform. It dates back to the old days of Android Ice Cream Sandwich, an era when manufacturer skins were often slow and ugly, making third-party launchers an essential download for any enthusiast. For over a decade, Nova was the king of that hill, offering a clean, fast, and infinitely tweakable experience that stock Android could not match.

Things changed in 2022 when the mobile analytics company Branch acquired Nova Launcher. Branch's then-CEO, Alex Austin, made public commitments about the app's future, stating that if Barry were to ever leave, the code would be open-sourced and given to the community. This promise helped quell fears that Branch would turn the beloved launcher into a data-harvesting tool. Austin himself left the following year in 2023.

In his weekend blog post titled "So long," Barry announced his departure, stating he had been preparing an open-source release for months. He was asked to stop working on the launcher and the open-sourcing effort. Barry confirmed he was the "only one working on Nova for the past year."

For the past several months I have been preparing the Open Source release of Nova Launcher. This work included cleaning up the codebase, reviewing licenses, removing or replacing proprietary code, and coordinating with legal to ensure a proper release.

However I was ultimately asked to stop working on Nova Launcher and the open sourcing effort. Nova Launcher has been an incredible project and has an incredible community. I'm grateful for the years of support, feedback, and enthusiasm.

Speaking to The Verge, Nova's former customer relations lead, Cliff Wade, who was laid off in 2024, said he believes the "newer leadership" at Branch has a "different focus" and simply "doesn't care" enough about Nova to make it open source, though he hopes community pressure might push Branch to "do the right thing."

There is a Change.org petition demanding that Branch honor its commitment. With nearly 2,500 signatures, the petition is reminding the company of its past statements and "contractual obligations."

Android launchers have experienced a bit of a fall from grace since their golden age between 2011 and 2016. This is partially because stock launchers from Google and Samsung have gotten so much better over the years.

Let's also not forget the gesture navigation problem that has plagued third-party options since Android 9, as Google's implementation has performed poorly with third-party launchers, often creating a glitchy experience that makes people revert to the first-party launcher or the ancient three-button navigation system.