Install
Download Dextera Launcher from Google Play:
First launch
First-run is a few short screens, one question each:
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Short slides that wait for you, ask which thumb you use, and show the search button in action |
| Setup | Make Dextera your home app, then allow notifications, contacts, music, and weather if you want them. One Allow access button covers Contacts, Music, and Notifications. Anything you already allowed is skipped |
| How you change pages | Swipe or slide along the search button |
| Your folders | Pick up to 4 things you use your phone for, and each becomes a folder with those apps in it. Or skip and start with none |
| Wallpaper | Pick a wallpaper and see it behind a preview of your home, or keep your phone’s own |
| Restore from backup | Restore a Dextera backup, or start fresh |
Skip any permission you don’t need; you can turn it on later in Settings. After you allow something in your phone’s Settings, Dextera comes back on its own. A backup cannot grant Android permissions — those still need a tap.
After setup, small tips show up the first time you reach something new, as a short note beside the search button.
File search tip
To search files from home, use Settings → Search → Add folder and pick places like Documents or Photos. Dextera only looks in folders you choose.
Make Dextera your home app
Android Settings → Default apps → Home app → Dextera
Until this is set, the Home button may return you to your old launcher.
What to turn on first
- Home app — so Home always opens Dextera
- Notification access — notification center, badges, music awareness
- Contacts (optional) — Contacts page and search
- Location (optional) — weather
- Folders (optional) — file search
The home screen at a glance
| Area | What’s there |
|---|---|
| Top | Optional status icons when the system status bar is hidden |
| Upper mid | Clock, date, weather, and your folder row, with All apps first |
| Center | Current page (apps, recents, music, notifications, Scratch Board, Quick Settings, widgets, …) |
| Side | Letter rail on the app list |
| Bottom corner | The search button on your thumb’s side, with your page icons beside it |
Try these first
- Tap anywhere in the corner around the search button to search.
- Swipe the search button left or right to change page, or tap a page icon beside it.
- Hold the search button for a short menu: Pages & wallpaper, Dextera settings, and Android settings. Keep holding, slide up to a choice, and let go.
- Tap a folder to fan out its first apps, then tap one. Tap the folder again to open all of it.
- Drag the All apps tile up or down to move your page closer to your thumb.
- Long-press an app for pin, lock, hide, folder, or uninstall.
- Pinch or long-press empty space for page overview, then open Appearance (try Styles) or Settings.
- Under Settings → About, turn on Back up to Google Drive, or use Save backup / Share backup / Import backup.
- Under Touch & Gestures, set Home button to First page if you want: leave an app → page you were on; Home again → first page.
Feature tour
See Features for screenshots and how-tos for every major area (Music, Notifications, Scratch Board, Quick Settings, Styles, Search, Security, and more).