Lawnchair is a free, open-source Android home launcher that extends Android's default Launcher3 with customization and Pixel Launcher features.
The project addresses the desire for a customizable home screen experience by taking Launcher3 as its foundation and layering additional functionality on top. It brings Material 3 expressive theming that adapts to wallpaper and system colors, At a Glance widget support with Smartspacer integration, QuickSwitch support for Android Recents on Android 10-15, global search across apps and contacts, and customization options for icon packs, fonts, and color settings. The approach keeps the core launcher stable while offering users granular control over appearance and behavior.
Lawnchair suits users who want deeper customization than stock Android provides without switching to a completely different launcher paradigm. It works well for those invested in the Pixel Launcher experience who want to extend it with Material 3 theming and widget flexibility. The project is available through multiple distribution channels including Google Play, IzzyOnDroid, Obtainium, and GitHub releases, though the Play Store version has feature restrictions due to publishing policies. Development builds are available for users willing to trade stability for access to the latest features and fixes.
The project is undergoing significant structural change, with the current development branch rebasing against Launcher3 from Android 16 and carrying explicit warnings about potential crashes and breakage. The codebase maintains parallel branches for multiple major versions, allowing users to remain on stable releases while development progresses on newer versions. The README directs regular users to stay on the stable branch rather than the development version, indicating a deliberate separation between experimental and production-ready code.
