Niagara Launcher managed to become one of the most popular launchers for Android. The app has been getting and better over the years, and the last update ups the ante. Niagara Launcher has just received the widget stacks feature via the latest update.
Those of you who use iOS or One UI are familiar with widget stacks. Niagara Launcher’s implementation is a bit different, though, of course, as this launcher handles widgets a bit differently.
Niagara Launcher rolls out the widget stacks feature, as it was highly requested
The company says that this was one of the most requested features over the years. Two years ago, the company introduced widgets inside app pop-ups, and now, it expands that functionality with widget stacks.
Those of you who have used Niagara Launcher know very well that this is a rather unique launcher. You get to set your list of favorite apps above anything else, and those apps are lined up vertically on the home screen. You can access the rest of the app by moving your finger along the edge of the display, on either side.
This makes for a different usage compared to pretty much anything else out there, and yet it is very functional once you get used to it. Considering this unique home screen, the company’s implementation of widgets is also unique.
It allows you to use the launcher’s very own widget, or add your own somewhere on the home screen. The third option is to add a widget in the form of an app popup, on top of a specific app you have set amongst your favorites.
This is all in the name of consistency and simplicity. That’s why this update is a great addition. You were able to add widgets in the form of app pop-ups for two years now, but now you can really go wild with it, by stacking up four on top of a single app icon.
There are a couple of different spots where you can add widget stacks
You can add a widget stack on the home screen itself, or inside an app popup. If you’d like to add it on the home screen, you need to long-press the calendar widget, and then select “Add custom widget”. You can do something similar while editing your favorites too. When you start adding a second widget, you’ll be offered to create a widget stack, or replace the current widget. Do note you need to be on the latest version of the app, though (released on May 3).
Widget Stacks are stable and rolling out on Google Play in the coming days 🧵 pic.twitter.com/lgJweH7CrI
— Niagara Launcher (@NiagaraLauncher) May 3, 2023
In order to add a widget on top of an app icon, you’ll need to hold down on an app icon to enter the settings. From there, you can add a widget, or create a widget stack. In order to access the widgets, you need to swipe from left to right across an app icon, and then you can simply scroll through your widget stack by swiping left-to-right or right-to-left.
I’ve tried out the feature briefly, and it seems to work really well. Widget stacks are not exactly a part of many launchers out there, and this implementation is completely unique.