The Google Pixel Launcher is better than ever, but it's still missing 5 big features - Android Authority

What the report says

Android Authority reports that Google’s Pixel Launcher has improved over the past year, citing additions such as the ability to hide icon labels, remove the At a Glance widget and use AI-generated icon packs. In a July 26, 2026 article, writer Zac Kew-Denniss argues that those changes still leave several common customization options absent from Google’s default launcher experience on Pixel devices.

The piece highlights five requested features: support for full Play Store icon packs, widget stacks, more flexible home-screen grid sizes, larger folders and a double-tap-to-sleep gesture. Android Authority notes that some competing Android manufacturers, including Samsung and OnePlus, already allow icon packs in their stock launchers, while Pixel users generally need alternative launchers for comparable control. The author also points to foldables and tablets as devices where limited grid options can feel especially restrictive.

Widget stacks are described as the author’s top priority because they let users place multiple widgets in one space and swipe through them, reducing the need for extra home screens. Larger folders are presented as another space-saving tool, especially on smaller phones, because users can launch visible apps directly from the unopened folder.

The article is framed as commentary rather than a Google announcement. Android Authority also ran a reader poll alongside the piece, with respondents choosing among the suggested features, including icon packs, widget stacks, grid sizes, big folders and double tap to sleep. The broader context is that Android has long been known for customization, while stock launchers have become more important as third-party launchers are less central to many users’ setups.