Nova Launcher Tricks: Hidden Settings to Master

Nova Launcher is one of the most popular Android launchers because it combines speed with deep customization. If you want to make your home screen faster, cleaner, and more personal, these tricks cover the hidden settings that most users never open. Below are the specific menus, gestures, and options that turn a default Nova setup into a truly tailored interface.

What Makes Nova Different From Stock Launchers

Most phones ship with a launcher that offers only a handful of options: change the wallpaper, rearrange icons, maybe add a widget. Nova replaces that entire layer with a settings app that controls nearly every pixel of your home screen. It runs on top of Android, so it works on Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus, Motorola, and most other devices. The core advantage is that Nova stores its own layout, icon grid, gestures, and appearance settings, independent of the phone manufacturer’s skin. That means you can set up your phone once and keep that exact setup even if you switch devices, as long as you back up the Nova settings.

Setting Up the App Drawer and Grid

Before you start with advanced tricks, the grid size is the foundation. Open Nova Settings > Desktop > Desktop grid. The default is usually 5×5, but you can choose anything from 3×3 to 10×10. A denser grid fits more icons but makes them smaller. The app drawer has its own grid setting under App drawer > Drawer grid. For a cleaner look, try the “Vertical” scroll style instead of the default “Paged”—it makes the drawer behave like a continuous list, which many users find faster to browse.

Another hidden option is the “Icon layout” section under Desktop settings. Here you can change icon size, label size, and even the font of the labels. Most users never touch this, but reducing label size or hiding labels entirely gives a much cleaner look. To hide labels, go to Desktop > Icon layout > Label and choose “None”.

Gestures That Save Time

Nova’s gesture system is one of its best features, but it’s buried in the settings. Go to Nova Settings > Gestures > input. You can assign actions to swipe up, swipe down, double-tap, two-finger swipe, and more. For example, set swipe up to open the app drawer, swipe down to pull the notification shade, and double-tap to open the camera. These gestures work anywhere on the home screen, not just on a specific icon.

To set a gesture, tap on the gesture name, then choose an action from the list. You can pick an app, a shortcut, a Nova action (like opening the drawer or toggling a setting), or even a Tasker task if you have that app installed. A practical setup: swipe up for the drawer, swipe down for notifications, double-tap to lock the screen. The double-tap lock action requires the “Screen off” action, which Nova provides without any extra app—it uses the device admin permission.

Using the Dock and Its Hidden Features

The dock is the bar at the bottom of the home screen. Most users just keep it as a row of icons, but Nova lets you do more. Go to Nova Settings > Dock. You can change the number of dock pages, which means you can swipe left or right on the dock to reveal more icons. Enable “Dock pages” and set a number like 2 or 3. Then, when you swipe on the dock, it moves to the next page of icons, effectively giving you a second or third row of quick-access apps without taking up screen space.

Another dock trick is the “Dock background” option. You can make the dock transparent, or give it a rounded rectangle background that matches your wallpaper. The “Dock icons” section lets you set a separate icon size for the dock, so you can keep home screen icons large but dock icons small, or vice versa. Also, turn on “Dock divider” to add a thin line between the dock and the home screen—some users prefer this visual separation.

Advanced Customization: Themes, Icons, and Widgets

Nova supports icon packs from the Play Store. To apply one, go to Nova Settings > Look & feel > Icon style > Icon pack. Choose any installed icon pack, and Nova will apply it to all icons that the pack covers. If an icon isn’t themed, you can manually change it: long-press the icon, tap “Edit”, then tap the icon image and choose a new one from the pack. This is a quick way to make your home screen look cohesive.

For widgets, Nova allows “Widget overlap” and “Widget resize” options. Enable these in Nova Settings > Desktop > Advanced. With overlap enabled, you can place a widget partially over another widget or icon. This is useful for creating layered looks, like a clock widget with a calendar peeking out from behind it. Resize allows you to stretch widgets beyond their default grid cells, which many stock launchers restrict.

Backup and Restore: Move Your Setup to a New Phone

One of the most practical tricks is the backup feature. Go to Nova Settings > Backup & restore > Backup. Nova saves a file to your internal storage (usually in the Nova backup folder). You can copy this file to a new phone, install Nova, then use “Restore” to apply your exact layout, gestures, and settings. This works even if the new phone has a different screen resolution—Nova will scale the grid accordingly, though you may need to adjust the grid size manually.

There’s also an “Auto-backup” option that saves a backup every day, keeping the last few versions. This is a lifesaver if you accidentally mess up a setting and want to revert to yesterday’s setup.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

If Nova crashes or icons disappear, the first step is to clear the launcher’s cache: go to Android Settings > Apps > Nova Launcher > Storage > Clear Cache. This does not delete your layout. If that doesn’t work, check if you have “Battery optimization” set to restrict Nova—some manufacturers aggressively kill background apps, which can cause the home screen to reload. Add Nova to the “Unrestricted” or “No restrictions” battery list in your phone’s battery settings.

Another common issue: widgets not updating. This is often because the widget’s host app is being battery-optimized. For example, a weather widget that doesn’t refresh is usually due to the weather app being killed in the background. Fix that by adjusting the battery settings for that specific app, not Nova.

Nova Launcher Prime: Is It Worth the Cost?

Nova Launcher is free, but there is a paid version called Nova Launcher Prime, which costs a few dollars. Prime adds a few features: gesture controls (swipes and double-taps), unread count badges, and the ability to hide apps from the drawer. The free version includes most of the visual customization, but gestures are the main reason to pay. If you find yourself using the free version daily, Prime is a one-time purchase that removes the ads and adds those extra controls. There is no subscription; it’s a single purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Nova Launcher slow down my phone?

No, Nova is lightweight and generally faster than stock launchers because it uses less memory and has fewer animations. However, if you install a heavy icon pack or use many widgets, you may notice a slight lag. Keep the animation scale in Nova Settings > Look & feel > Animations at “Fast” or “Faster” to keep things snappy.

Can I use Nova Launcher on any Android phone?

Yes, Nova works on any Android device running Android 5.0 or higher. It works on Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and others. On some phones, you may need to go to Settings > Default apps > Home app and select Nova Launcher to make it the default.

How do I hide apps from the app drawer?

In Nova Launcher Prime, go to Nova Settings > App drawer > Hide apps. Check the apps you want to hide. They will disappear from the drawer but still be accessible via search or by creating a shortcut manually. In the free version, you can only hide apps by putting them in a folder and removing the folder from the drawer, but that’s not a true hide.

Why do my icons change size after a reboot?

This can happen if you have “Auto-fit icons” enabled, which resizes icons to fit the grid. It’s usually caused by a change in display density or a misbehaving icon pack. Try disabling “Auto-fit” in Nova Settings > Desktop > Icon layout > Auto-fit icons. If that doesn’t help, reapply your icon pack and restart.

Can I back up my Nova settings to Google Drive?

Nova does not have a built-in cloud backup, but you can back up to your device and then upload the backup file to Google Drive manually. The backup file is a simple .nova backup file that you can store anywhere. On a new phone, download the file, then use Nova Settings > Backup & restore > Restore to select it.

Does Nova Launcher drain battery?

No, Nova itself does not drain battery because it’s not running in the background constantly. It only draws when you’re on the home screen. If you notice battery drain, it’s likely from widgets or icon packs that update frequently. Check your battery usage stats to see which app is actually consuming power.

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