Microsoft Launcher
Image Courtesy: Microsoft.com

Last month, Microsoft rolled out an update for the Launcher Beta app on Android with a couple of new features. Today, Microsoft is pushing the same update to the general public.

The latest version of Microsoft Launcher is 4.12 and the changelog is now live on the Google Play Store.

  • Folder and app icon gestures (swipe to open or click to launch).
  • Choose how to use the last row of expanded dock: Apps, pinned contacts, folders, search bar or widgets.
  • Parents can enable web filtering through the Family card.
  • Folders in the app drawer are now sorted alphabetically.
  • UI improvements: Animation adjustments; blur effect as an option; App badges in the app drawer.
  • Fully support Android 8.0 and remove support for 4.0.X and 4.1

Microsoft Launcher was launched last year and it has become as fluid and useful as any native OEM customization of Android. It is a decent app that allows users to set themes and customize opacity, blur, accent and even header colours. It also comes with the ability to set Cortana as the default digital assistant on the phone.

As Microsoft has stopped developing Windows 10 Mobile and new Windows Phone hardware, the company’s mobile push would continue to rely exclusively on apps and services aimed at Android and iOS devices. Microsoft has put some considerable resources behind its new approach to mobile and with the new Microsoft Launcher, it seems that the company has found a new way to stay relevant in the smartphone industry.

About The Author

Mayank Parmar

Mayank Parmar is an entrepreneur who founded Windows Latest. He is the Editor-in-Chief and has written on various topics in his seven years of career, but he is mostly known for his well-researched work on Microsoft's Windows. His articles and research works have been referred to by CNN, Business Insiders, Forbes, Fortune, CBS Interactive, Microsoft and many others over the years.