Latest Microsoft Launcher update getting a lot of negative reviews

Like most people, I don’t use it. Are the complaints justified?

Conversation 11 comments

  • Tiny

    Premium Member
    25 August, 2020 - 9:29 pm

    <p>If you don't use it, why do you care?</p>

    • anderb

      Premium Member
      26 August, 2020 - 1:37 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#564099">In reply to Tiny:</a></em></blockquote><p>Do I have to use a macbook to hear about what people do or don't like about it? Should Paul stop reviewing products that readers don't own?</p>

  • peterc

    Premium Member
    26 August, 2020 - 5:20 am

    <p>I use MS Launcher on my second handset, a OnePlus 7T. I find MS Launcher in general to be great and personally I have really enjoyed using it over its development cycle.</p><p><br></p><p>As to whether Id use a landscape mode day to day on my handset? the answer is at the moment, no, not really. Ive tried it and it technically works fine. Would I use MS launcher in landscape mode on say an 8" tablet screen or above… <strong>absolutely YES</strong>.</p><p><br></p><p>Surface Mini……. incoming.</p>

  • navarac

    26 August, 2020 - 8:03 am

    <p>Don't see a problem – icons a bit bigger but so …..?</p>

  • Paul Thurrott

    Premium Member
    26 August, 2020 - 8:05 am

    <p>I don't know. What are your complaints? :)</p>

  • rob_segal

    Premium Member
    26 August, 2020 - 1:08 pm

    <p>There might be an issue with notification badges or numbers, the performance might need to be smoothed out, swipe gestures may have changed, other miscellaneous complaints that may not affect you. Still worth trying. It's easy to test a launcher and uninstall it if you don't like it.</p>

  • TechnologyTemperance

    26 August, 2020 - 3:05 pm

    <p>I have it on my Android. It's fine. I don't see any issues with it. The #1 thing I like about it (and have for a while) is "the feed". A simple swipe left gives me a list of all my appointments for the day, and one press access to launch the teams meetings. Where I live in Outlook/Teams every day, that integration is really helpful. For me, the #1 piece of data I need access to is when is my next meeting, and this launcher has been the best solution for that (since WinPhone7 where it would show on my lock screen).</p>

  • coeus89

    26 August, 2020 - 3:19 pm

    <p>Still works great for me before and after. People don't like change and do like to complain. No one is making anyone use it. If it fills your needs then it's a great launcher. If it doesn't fill your needs then it's not a great launcher. I really like it. It is definitely worth a try if you're in the market.</p>

  • kcarson97404

    Premium Member
    26 August, 2020 - 5:31 pm

    <p>What are people complaining about? I haven't really experienced much difference in usability with this latest update. </p>

    • anderb

      Premium Member
      27 August, 2020 - 6:09 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#564283">In reply to kcarson97404:</a></em></blockquote><p>A sample of comments from the Play Store:</p><p><br></p><p>No booster in new version. Fonts are bold. No shortcut of hidden apps.</p><p><br></p><p>Don't like the appearance. The previous version looks better for me.</p><p><br></p><p>How do I get back to the old version? Or at least change the horrendous font on this new one?</p><p><br></p><p>The new update is really disappointing. Seems like the app is downgraded instead of upgrading. Shortcut like opening another app by sliding up the icon and other such features are not present in this update.</p><p><br></p><p>Update ruined Search and UI. PhonePe isn't returned on searching 'pe'. Shows web results even when user doesn't want it.</p><p><br></p><p>This new update is fu*k sh*t. You remove all the nice features and left us with features we don't even need.</p><p><br></p><p>Latest update is a straight up downgrade. I've been using the launcher for years now I have to look for an alternative.</p><p><br></p><p>A new update has really impaired the pleasure of using an otherwise great launcher. What I'd like back: – Better transparency for folders, folder icons, the dashboard… Everything. – Back to 16 icons in a folder, rather than 9. There's so much annoying dead space there!</p><p><br></p><p>Has been very disappointing as a decent amount of neat features have been fully stripped out. The dock has no access to widgets and quick controls anymore, no support for theme transparencies. All the included widgets are scaled higher and look ugly.</p><p><br></p><p>This App was amazing, the last update ruined the app.</p><p><br></p><p>What the hell, the latest update removed the quick access to secret apps, (swiping dock up twice) and when I finally figured out how to access them without editing the hidden apps everything is so cramped up the names don't display more than the first 5 characters.</p><p><br></p><p>I don't like the new design, it's all clumsy and a lot of features were removed. For example where are the shortcuts from the dock? I hate the bold font. This new update is so wrong.</p>

  • harmjr

    Premium Member
    26 August, 2020 - 6:19 pm

    <p>I love the way folders work. In settings you can set folders not to full screen. folder icons are closer. Also turned on dark mode. I just got updated this week. I'm happy.</p>

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