I turned my Android right into a Home windows Cellphone, and I do not assume I will return

I’ve examined a variety of smartphones through the years, together with fashions from Asus, Google, Samsung, and Apple. Nevertheless, one kind of telephone I by no means had the chance to check, which I deeply remorse to today, is a Windows Phone.

The final Home windows Cellphone to be launched earlier than Microsoft gave up on them was the Windows Lumia 650 in 2016, which was powered by Home windows 10 Cellular, an working system developed by Microsoft for its smartphones. One of many standout options of Microsoft’s cell OS was its distinctive tile design for its residence display screen. Was it the fanciest design on the planet? No, but it surely was simplistic and crowd pleasing, and I discovered it significantly fascinating as somebody who has primarily used a Windows PC all their life.

With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 quickly, it bought me out of the blue fascinated by the Home windows Cellphone once more, and its distinctive sq. residence display screen. Then the thought occurred to me, there should be a third-party Android launcher out there that resembles the Home windows Cellphone in some capability, proper?

The reply is sure, and the one I have been having fun with utilizing probably the most is named Square Home. Over the previous few days, I have been experimenting with it to rework my Galaxy S25+ right into a Home windows Cellphone-like expertise. Whereas I really like the appear and feel of One UI 7, one thing is charming concerning the simplistic tile design that Sq. House gives, which is a pleasant throwback to the Home windows Cellphone period. Here is tips on how to arrange Sq. House in your Android gadget, and why you won’t need to swap again to your default launcher after utilizing it.

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Sq. House offers you the Home windows Cellphone expertise

You may customise all of the tiles to your liking and add widgets

To get began with Sq. House, you’ll be able to obtain it without cost from the Google Play Retailer. After putting in, you will see two apps: Sq. House and House choices. Whenever you faucet Sq. House, it instantly opens the launcher, permitting you to start out customizing your tiled residence display screen, just like a Home windows Cellphone (as seen within the picture above).

So as to add completely different apps, faucet the plus button on the backside of the display screen. From there, you’ll be able to add apps, shortcuts, launcher actions, dividers, tile teams and extra. To rearrange or resize the app tiles already on your own home display screen, merely faucet and maintain them, similar to you’d on the default Android residence app.

I selected to maintain my calendar and the time on the prime of the display screen, and I positioned the apps I take advantage of most frequently all through the day — comparable to Gmail, Google Messages, Spotify, and Chrome — close to the highest as nicely. What I like about Sq. House is that you may customise the colour of the tiles to match your model and make every app tile stand out. Widgets are additionally supported, so you’ll be able to add an indicator on your battery, a photograph collage, or another Android widget if you want. Sq. House additionally includes a distinctive app drawer, situated beneath Purposes, which organizes all apps into tiles. A search bar is included for simply discovering any app in your gadget.

Sq. House additionally gives one other distinctive characteristic, just like what the Home windows Cellphone had, known as Dwell Tiles. These are a kind of tile that robotically shows notifications from its corresponding app. As an example, I’ve X (previously Twitter) on mine, and with Dwell Tiles enabled, it robotically shows notifications from the app, comparable to direct messages I’ve acquired. It additionally works for a lot of different apps, just like the Cellphone app, the place you’ll be able to view any missed calls by way of the Dwell Tile.

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How you can set Sq. House as your default House app

It is an ad-free expertise, however you should buy premium options

Whenever you obtain Sq. House, you additionally get one other app known as House Choices in your gadget. Opening this reveals extra customization choices for Sq. House, together with adjusting tile sizes and kinds, establishing gestures, choosing your wallpaper, and extra. On the prime of the House Choices display screen, you will see an choice known as Set default residence, which robotically directs you to the Settings menu in your gadget to set Sq. House as your default House app. Alternatively, you’ll be able to change your default launcher at any time in your Android gadget by going to Settings > Apps > Select default apps > House app.

Though Sq. House is not a 1:1 remake of the Home windows Cellphone, it’s a devoted adaptation, and its tile design genuinely evokes its nostalgia. Not like another third-party Android launchers, Sq. House is totally ad-free, so you will not be seeing intrusive adverts on a regular basis in the event you set it as your default launcher.

That stated, it gives an choice to pay yearly for $2 or a one-time lifetime charge of $6 to unlock extra premium options (marked with inexperienced icons within the settings). These embody the flexibility to arrange extra gestures, completely different tile animations, change the font, and way more. Whenever you first arrange Sq. House, you do get a 14-day free trial to check out the premium options, so you’ll be able to a minimum of attempt them and see in the event you like them or not with out having to pay.

Though I’ve by no means personally used a Home windows Cellphone, Sq. House permits me to expertise what it might need been like to make use of one. Its tiled design offers a refreshing various to the everyday residence screens on Android and iOS. After utilizing it for the previous few days, I plan to maintain it as my default launcher for the foreseeable future. Should you’re a Home windows Cellphone fan, you would possibly really feel the identical after testing it out. It is easy, and I’ve had no hassle accessing all my apps and going about my each day routines with Sq. House. It could be nice to see Microsoft launch an official Home windows Android launcher sometime, however that is in all probability an extended shot.

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