It’s a sad day for many Android fans as Kevin Barry, the brilliant mind behind Nova Launcher, has officially announced his departure. After more than ten years guiding one of Android’s most beloved customization tools, Barry is stepping away for good. This news follows a challenging year where he was the only developer left working on the app.
The End of an Era for Customization
The news, confirmed by multiple sources and directly by Barry himself, paints a picture many didn’t expect. Barry reportedly wanted to release Nova Launcher’s source code as free software. However, Branch Metrics, the current owner, outright blocked this move, preventing him from doing so. You can read his full statement on the matter here.
Nova Launcher first appeared in 2011. It quickly became the go-to premium choice for Android users wanting more control over their phone’s look and feel. Over the years, the app received constant updates, staying compatible with every new version of Google’s operating system. It was known for offering advanced customization options without slowing down your phone. Users loved its custom gestures, adaptive icons, cool transition effects, and the ability to create truly unique setups.
The Beginning of the End
The trouble began when Branch Metrics bought the app in July 2022. This purchase immediately raised questions among users. Many worried about changes to Nova Launcher’s business model, like adding ads to the free version. At the time, Branch Metrics promised to keep the original development team and their approach to the app.
However, things went downhill just months later. In August 2024, Branch laid off a significant part of the Nova Launcher development team. This left Kevin Barry as the only programmer working on the project for the entire last year. The situation became impossible for him to continue. When Barry tried to honor an earlier promise to make the code open source if he ever left, Branch Metrics stopped him cold. This final roadblock led to his definitive exit.
Now, Nova Launcher’s future is very unclear. The app will keep working on devices where it is already installed. However, it will not receive any further updates or bug fixes. This means it will eventually stop being compatible with newer Android versions. For its many users, this is a real problem. Finding good alternatives in the Android world, especially after Nova Launcher’s more than fifteen years in the market, won’t be easy. Its departure truly marks the close of a special chapter in Android’s history. Nova Launcher proved that combining extreme flexibility with rock-solid stability was possible, a feat few other launchers have managed to copy.