How To Transform Your Old Android Phone Into a Pixel 2 With This App

When the Pixel 2 first launched, there was no shortage of unofficial apps designed to brings Google’s best new software to other Android phones. The only issue was that you had to cobble together a bunch of smaller tweaks or root your phone to get the full Pixel 2 experience on older hardware. Now there’s finally a root-free solution that offers all the best features in one package.
The Rootless Pixel Launcher 3.0 is available for any device running Android 5.0 Lollipop and up. Beyond the usual Pixel 2 perks, it also includes some of the enhancements Android modders have come to expect from other launchers, along with a few extra improvements from the app’s creator, Amir Zaidi.
One of the biggest reasons to install the launcher is At a Glance, a special Pixel 2 widget that shows your next calendar event on your home screen at all time right next to the weather. Pressing down on the center of an app icon will also launch a pop-up menu with shortcuts and notifications. The download even comes with special icon designs, including a calendar icon that changes with the date.

If you want to install the Rootless Pixel Launcher 3.0 you’ll have to sideload, since it’s not available from Google’s Play Store. The first thing you’ll need to do is enable Unknown Sources by heading into Settings on your phone. Then hit Security, select “Lock screen and security” and toggle on “Unknown sources.”
With that done you can download the new launcher. Then find it in your Android notification tray and tap on the file to install it. Once it’s finished, hit the home button and Android will ask you to pick a new home screen app. Select “Pixel Launcher” and set it to Always.
That’s it. You’re done and you’ve got a shiny new Android launcher to play with. For more info, head to the developer’s announcement on Reddit for a full list of features and a detailed guide for getting started.