Just a few days back Android 4.4 KitKat made its debut with the new Google Nexus 5 Smartphone . With Android 4.4 KitKat, Google has revamped the overall look of Android . The first thing you would definitely notice in Android 4.4 , is the new Transparent notification bar . Apart from that , android 4.4 brings in new and bigger icons among a bunch of other visual changes.
Currently apart from the nexus 5 , previous nexus devices like the nexus 4 and nexus 7 are lined up to receive the android 4.4 KitKat update in the coming weeks . Although there is still no word about whether and when the android 4.4 update will be made available by other android phone manufacturers . If you are patiently waiting to experience Android 4.4 on your Phone, then actually you can skip the queue and experience a bit of android 4.4 KitKat on your smartphone now .
The good guys over XDA-forums have already extracted the launcher from android 4.4 KitKat and made it available for all android users . But a point to note : The android 4.4 KitKat launcher is currently working flawlessly only on phones running Android 4.3 Jellybean . Although many android 4.1 and 4.2 users have claimed to make the Android 4.4 launcher work on their android phones , but some of them are still experiencing certain glitches and bugs.
I have been using the Android 4.4 launcher on my Galaxy S3 running Android 4.1.2 , so far it has been working fine with no noticeable lag and i have yet to find any bugs on it . You can follow the instructions below to download and Install the new Android 4.4 KitKat launcher on your Android phone .
Instructions to Install the Android 4.4 KitKat Launcher on your Android Phone
- Step 1: Download the Android 4.4 KitKat launcher from this link . after the zip file is downloaded , extract the zip file and copy over all the 3 apk files on your Android phone .
- Step 2: On your Android phone , navigate to folder where you have copied the apk files and install then in the following order
- Install PrebuiltGmsCore.apk
- Install Velvet.apk
- Install GoogleHome.apk
- Step 3: Once you install all the apk files , you can now find a new launcher icon added to your apps list .
- Step 4: Tap on the Launcher icon to open it and now you will have the latest Android 4.4 KitKat launcher on your Android phone.
Here is how the new Android 4.4 launcher look on my Samsung Galaxy S3 .
If you need to add a new home screen , simply drag an app to the right and you will have a new home screen . In any case if you encounter any bugs then can go back to your stock launcher by simply holding the home button and selecting your phone’s default launcher .
You can also download the Nexus 5 wallpapers and use them on your android phones .
Now that you have the latest Android 4.4 Kitkat launcher on your Android phone , go ahead and flaunt your Phone’s new Android android 4.4 Kitkat look and have fun making your friends fall for this simple trick .
Wouldn’t copy over to my phone 🙁
You need to extract it to your desktop and then copy it over to your Phone .
how to uninstall this apps?.I take a lots of battery just tell so that i will uninstall.
It keeps on prompting me “unfortunately google search stopped” whenever i tried to open the launcher. So what can I do about it?
-Mariz A.
The launcher works perfectly on any Android 4.3 device but it might or might not work properly on device running android 4.2 or lower versions .
yeah me too the same problem wat to doo
I can not install Velvet & Google Home it Shows ” There is a problem parsing the package.”
pls tell me what to do?
same problen here
so what we can do friend??
I cant install prebuiltgms and velvet.apk what to do??
How come you have GTalk instead of Hangouts? Isn’t Hangouts the default SMS in 4.4?
Nice observation SNag , Actually what we have here is only the Android 4.4 KitKat launcher , so it does not include the hangouts app . As of now the hangouts and Keyboard app from KitKat have been officially released for all android phones and can be downloaded from the Play store .
So if I install Hangouts would it be able to operate as my default SMS? Or is that feature not included in the launcher?
You wont get Hangout with this launcher but you can download Hangouts separately from the Play store and use it with the Android 4.4 KitKat launcher provided here .
I already do have Hangouts; would it have the 4.4 functionality after I download it?
The android 4.4 features were added to hangouts yesterday through an new update . If hangouts on your phone has been updated , then surely it will have the android 4.4 features .
hey when iam installing above 4.4 files it says not installed – googleplay services, i have uninstalled g play updates, but still same problem, i have canvas HD..please help how to install..thanks
hi, do you extract the apk’s themselves and put their various files into the phone? or do you just extract the folder and put the apk files into the galaxy?
Just extract all the three files to your desktop and then copy them on your Android phone .
Hi, I tried to install the apk´s, but only insatalling apk no. 1 worked. velvet would not install. Now I´m trying to delete the PrebuiltGmsCore.apk again, cause it seems to use a lot of battery. Can you tell me how to delete the Prebuilt?
By mistake i installed the velvet thing first…what to do now??
how to uninstall these apps
Just uninstall the “Launcher” from the apps . that should work.
a new launcher or upgrade for samsung galaxy 8262
that link not working please any one tell me to working link
I have checked the link, its working perfectly. try downloading the file form a PC.
where is the link
I am not able to install 1 file…. i even tried to uninstall the updates for Google Play Services but there is no option to uninstall update for Google Play services
YES, IT WORKS! THANKS SO MUCH!
Android KitKat is the latest Android release, Google’s annual report says that only1.8 percent of mobile phones get the Android KitKat 4.4. If you want to feel this version then this launcher is the best option to have.
the link not working in indonesia… for all of you if the link not working use addon anonymox this is for fire fox it’ll be work..
techverse.net thank’s for the kitkat launcher 🙂
ITS VIRUSSS!!!!!!!!!
Is this going to work if I have Android 5.0 and want to use the above method to downgrade it to KitKat?
I am curious about that,too. I want to have KitKat again,it’s less comolicated that Android 5.0.
Superb n really Cool its working in first attempt..
My doesnt work it instals PrebuiltGmsCore without a problem but Google home and velvet wont
There is problem parsing the packege
Mine won’t open PrebuiltGmscore and velvet please need help! But i have the android 4.4 launcher running
can any one help me to update nokia lumia 638 to android 5.0
sir download link not working plz do somethimg
its really slow on andriod 4.2, why?
And also, is there anyway to intergrate it with beautiful stock UI Icons without slowing down the phone completely?
Thanks. It is suitable for all smartphones. As we all know that android kitkat versions cannot be easily updated,so we have to follow step-by-step guide to install and download it on our smartphone
Thank u… i was looking for this and your post was very helpful in my search
@lovejeetsing:disqus file not available…plz upload it again…I need this..
Thanks for the post share and android 8 oreo going to come and im eagerly wait for the updated version
I have thought so many times of entering the blogging world as I love reading them. I think I finally have the courage to give it a try. Thank you so much for all of the ideas!
The process of downloading the android version is very simple and described very precisely.
Thanks for such an informative guide. It’s a very Useful and well-written article.