There’s only one company to blame for Stario Launcher’s death
There’s only one company to blame for Stario Launcher’s death
https://www.androidauthority.com/stario-launcher-hands-on-dead-google-fault-3682817/
Publish Date: 2026-07-04 05:35:00
Source Domain: www.androidauthority.com
Andy Walker / Android Authority
It’s rare that I encounter an Android launcher I’ve never heard of before, but Stario Launcher is one such example. The project has been ongoing since 2024 and has somehow flown well below the radar. What makes this truly remarkable is that Stario Launcher is perhaps the most beautiful Android launcher I’ve ever installed on my phone.
It has all the elements for a swift yet sumptuous home screen experience, from custom animations and widgets to loads of organizational tools. It looks and feels unlike any other Android launcher I’ve tried, and given that it’s a pretty crowded segment, that’s certainly worth a hat-tip.
There is one massive problem: Stario Launcher is essentially dead, and one company is to blame — Google.
Do you think Google’s policy changes will impact your use of third-party Android apps?
8 votes
Yes, I rely on many third-party apps.
75%
No, I mostly use apps from the Play Store.
25%
I’m not sure yet.
0%
Leaning into the Stario experience while I still can
Andy Walker / Android Authority
Before I explain Stario Launcher’s strange and sad predicament, let me touch on the launcher’s positive aspects.
Stario puts aesthetics first and foremost, but this doesn’t come with a functionality or speed hit. It’s made with a keen eye on Google’s Material Expressive design language, sprinkled with its own charm, making it feel right at home on Pixel phones.
Stario Launcher is perhaps the most beautiful Android launcher I’ve ever installed on my phone.
As a minimalist launcher, there’s very little on its main screen at initial startup. This, as an AIO Launcher user — a launcher that puts absolutely everything on a single screen — was a little jarring. Nevertheless, I can appreciate the launcher giving greater importance to the background.
The main screen isn’t completely empty. A clock widget joins a calendar/weather widget, a media widget that’s hidden when nothing’s playing, an animated search shortcut…
