Rootless Pixel Launcher Pulled From Play Store For Policy Violation

Well, that was quick. Barely a week after the developer and fans of the Rootless Pixel Launcher celebrated its availability on Google Play Store, Google takes it down. But before you go thinking foul play, developer Amir Zaidi did issue a mea culpa over the incident. It all boils down to a policy on Google Play Store that disallows apps that download other apps that isn't also available on Google Play Store.

Although Rootless Pixel has been around for quite a while already, it has only been available through channels outside the sanctioned Google Play Store, like APK Mirror and GitHub. That does mean that not even the developer can guarantee the integrity and safety of the APKs that get distributed from these places. A guarantee that Google makes for app that it has vetted to be on the Play Store.

And it's not like Zaidi is snubbing Android's official app store like Epic Games has for Fortnite. It was for purely technical reasons. In order to make use of the Google Now panel and other features, Rootless Pixel Launcher needs to use the same package name as the original Pixel Launcher on Google Play Store. Something that isn't allowed. Just when he thought he finally found a clever way around that limitation, Google throws him a not unexpected curveball.

The Rootless Pixel Launcher on Google Play Store no longer has to use the Pixel Launcher's package name. It does this by prompting users to install a Bridge utility that does conflict with the package name and provides the functionality previously built into the launcher. And this is where the problem lies. Google Play Store doesn't allow apps that prompt users to download something outside the Play Store.

Rootless Pixel is hardly the only app on Google Play Store that does that, but outrightly prompting users to do so may have tripped up Google's security checks. Other launchers, like Nova Launcher also require downloading and APK separately but doesn't pop up a notice for users to do so. Instead, the option is somewhat hidden in Nova's settings.

The quick fix would be follow that practice, but Zaidi is worried that the Google has already banned Rootless Pixel's package name for good. If and when he does get a new version up again on Google Play Store, users will have to start from scratch again, as the settings won't be carried over. For now, new users can continue getting their APKs from GitHub, with the usual security caveats.