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Customize the Pixel Launcher on the Google Pixel 5 with Pixel Launcher Editor [Root]
The Pixel Launcher Editor is a handy Magisk/Substratum mod that lets you customize the Pixel Launcher on the Google Pixel 5.
The Pixel Launcher Editor is a combination of a Magisk module and Substratum theme that lets Pixel users build their own custom theme for the stock launcher on their devices. The mod was created by XDA Senior Member eg1122, and it's already available for the Pixel 3/3 XL, Pixel 3a/3a XL, Pixel 4/4 XL, and the Pixel 4a. And even though it's just been slightly over a month since Google officially unveiled the Pixel 5, the developer has now released the mod for the company's latest flagship.
Extras for AA uses Substratum to heavily customize Android Auto's in-car UI
Extras for AA is a Substratum theme created by XDA Senior Member shmykelsa that helps you to modify the in-car UI elements of Android Auto.
If you've dabbled in custom themes on Android, then the name “Substratum” may ring a bell. The overlay-based theming mechanism dynamically modifies the resources of an app without actually touching the corresponding APK. Such a design makes Substratum an ideal solution to alter the UI elements of apps like Android Auto that otherwise offer very few customization options. In fact, last year we covered a mod that used Substratum theming to change the Android Auto wallpaper.
You can use Substratum custom themes on One UI 2.0 with Synergy
You can use Substratum themes on One UI 2.0 now, thanks to Synergy. Synergy is an app by the Projekt team which allows for Substratum themes on One UI.
When One UI went into public beta way back in November of 2018, many were excited to start using it. It offered massive improvements in aesthetics and features, along with a system-wide dark mode. Even better, Samsung didn’t disable installing custom overlays in One UI. Sadly, around the time of the Galaxy S10 launch, Samsung did eventually merge the changes blocking custom overlays used by the Substratum theme engine. The Projekt team found a workaround dubbed "Synergy," but that workaround was patched with the launch of One UI 2 based on Android 10. The Projekt team has now released an update to Synergy that works with One UI 2.0.
Pixel Launcher Editor is a root mod that lets you customize the launcher on the Pixel 4, 3a, and 3
The Pixel Launcher is a lightweight launcher with some Google goodies, but it's not terribly customizable. That's where Pixel Launcher Editor comes in.
Android fans love to get apps from Pixel phones on other devices. One of those apps that we see people try to port and replicate a lot is the Pixel Launcher. The Pixel Launcher is a lightweight launcher with some Google goodies, but it's not terribly customizable. That's where Pixel Launcher Editor comes in.
Customize the AOD color in MIUI with the Trinity Substratum theme
Using Trinity Theme: AOD Customization and Substratum, you can customize the colors of the breathing light always-on display feature in MIUI 11
Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones are highly valued for their effective pricing. At the same time, their efforts to improve the software experience with their own Android overlay – MIUI – aren't hidden from anyone. With MIUI 11, Xiaomi added the "Breathing Light" feature, which, just like OnePlus' "Horizon Lighting" and Samsung's "Edge Lighting," lights up the longer edges on Xiaomi and Redmi devices with AMOLED displays whenever a new notification arrives. The feature, however, is considerably limited and if you want to customize the colors or improve the existing feature, a Substratum theme called "Trinity Theme: AOD Customization" can be incredibly useful.
Make OxygenOS look more Pixel-like with the Out of Oxygen Substratum theme
Make OxygenOS on your OnePlus smartphone running Android 9+ to look like Google Pixel's UI with the Substratum theme called "Out of Oxygen."
OxygenOS by OnePlus is among the most loved Android interfaces. Drawing its philosophy from custom ROMs like yesteryears' most popular ROM, CyanogenMod, OxygenOS features an almost-stock Android UI with several options for customization. Over the years, little changes in OxygenOS has magnified to the extent that it now has its own iconography and peculiar design elements. But if the old soul in you wants a look closer to AOSP on your OnePlus device, you can use a Substratum theme called "Out of Oxygen" to get your OnePlus smartphone's UI to look like a Google Pixel.
Substratum now supports Android 10 theming
If the built-in theming options in Android 10 aren't robust enough for your tastes, Substratum now supports Google's latest and greatest Android build.
For those of you who find Android 10's built-in theming options and system-wide dark mode a bit bare-bones, the latest beta of Substratum now supports Google's latest and greatest, provided the phone in question is rooted. I've put it through its paces on my backup phone, a OnePlus 5T running Android 10 via AOSiP and using the Liv Dark Substratum theme. I also had a chance to talk to a couple of members of the Projekt Development Team behind Substratum and gain some insight into how Android 10 support was achieved.
Change the Android Auto background with Substratum themes
If you are looking for a way to change the background on Android Auto, you can now do so with this substratum theme called Substratum AA Wallpaper. Read on!
Android Auto might have lost its place in Google's priority list to Google Assistant's Driving Mode, but there are still plenty of users who remain committed to the Android Auto app. But even that commitment can get boring and drab sometimes—irrespective of the redesigned interface with the dark theme and simplified controls. If you are looking to try something new and different, you can now change the background wallpaper on Android Auto with Substratum AA Wallpaper—substratum themes.
Some of the best Synergy themes for your One UI phone
There are lots of themes for Substratum that support Synergy, so I thought I might as well list out some of the best themes that are available.
Just last month, the Projekt team launched Synergy. Synergy allows you to install Substratum themes on every Samsung phone with One UI. The best part is it works without root. There are lots of themes for Substratum that support Synergy, so I thought I might as well list out some of the best themes that are available. This is by no means a complete list because there are a lot more themes, but these are some of the cooler ones I've seen.
Synergy lets you use Substratum custom themes once again on Samsung's One UI
Samsung's Android Pie-based One UI blocks custom Substratum themes from being installed, but the new Synergy app lets you get around that restriction.
When Samsung released its Android Pie-based software called One UI, we were big fans of its focus on one-handed ease of use and system-wide dark theme. Furthermore, unlike Android Pie builds for other devices, Samsung didn't disable installing custom overlays in One UI. Sadly, around the time of the Galaxy S10 launch, Samsung merged the changes blocking custom overlays used by the Substratum theme engine. Fortunately, the Projekt team found a workaround. They have created a new app called Synergy to install themes on Samsung Galaxy phones running One UI, and it doesn't need root.
[Update: Video] Substratum Lite launches with a faster, smaller, and more stable experience
Substratum Lite is a new version of the popular theme engine that promises to be faster, smaller, and more stable, plus it already supports Android Q.
Substratum Lite is the newest release from Projekt and they're billing it as the "most essential features, in a light package." This new version aims to be faster, smaller, and more stable, plus it already supports Android Q (in preview). The development of Substratum Lite was lead by Ivan Iskandar, one of the Substratum developers.
Hyperion Supreme is a new way to get all the Hyperion "Pro" features
Projekt has launched a separate launcher called Hyperion Supreme for $1.99 with all the pro features built-in. No more unlocking through an in-app purchase.
Hyperion is a launcher made by Projekt, the same people behind Substratum. It's basically a super customizable version of the Pixel launcher with all the bells and whistles that most people expect from a 3rd-party launcher. It even has some integration with other launcher tools, such as Sesame shortcuts and Google Feed. All of these features are available in the free version, but there are "Pro" features as well. Projekt has launched a separate launcher called Hyperion Supreme with all the pro features built-in.
"Complete One UI Project" is a Substratum overlay pack to fix annoyances in Samsung's Android Pie software
Complete One UI Project fixes many of Samsung One UI's smaller annoynaces, making it more consistently dark and better for one handed use. Read on!
Samsung's One UI brings together several refinements, as well as Android Pie, to the custom UX present on Samsung devices. As a successor to Touchwiz and Samsung Experience, One UI brought features like improved usage with one-hand, a system wide dark theme and more, most of which we largely appreciated in our review for the same. But despite best efforts, software experiences still have room to improve, especially considering the fact that experiences center around subjective opinion.
Samsung Galaxy S10 may not be able to use custom themes from Swift Installer or Substratum
One UI 1.1 on the Samsung Galaxy S10+ appears to be blocking users from installing and using custom overlays from Substratum and other apps. Read on!
Samsung's latest flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S10, puts together the best of what the company has achieved in consumer-ready hardware and software into a smartphone that will give competitors some sleepless nights. The Galaxy S10 offers the best Samsung experience yet, made possible by 10 years worth of effort in this segment.
One UI update quietly blocks Substratum/Swift Installer on the Samsung Galaxy S8/Galaxy Note 8
The One UI beta update (Android 9 Pie) for the Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Note 8 has quietly blocked Substratum/Swift Installer theming.
Back when the first Android P Developer Preview was first released, there was a lot of controversy among enthusiasts about the latest version blocking custom overlays (themes) from being installed. Enthusiasts hoped that this was a bug but, it was confirmed by Google to be a security measure. Since the code responsible for blocking custom overlays is part of AOSP, the Android Pie builds that OEMs have released should also eventually have these patches. Oddly, the One UI (Android Pie) beta and stable updates for the Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, and Galaxy Note 9 does not have this restriction in place. For some reason, however, the beta One UI builds for the Snapdragon and Exynos Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 have this restriction in place, blocking users from installing custom overlays from apps like Substratum or Swift Installer.
Custom themes already possible on Samsung Experience 10 ahead of Android Pie beta
Developers have already gotten custom themes working on the leaked Samsung Experience 10 builds ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S9's Android Pie beta.
In Android Pie, Google blocked custom substratum themes from being installed without root. Users were outraged but Google claimed that it was for security reasons that they blocked the install. Apps like Substratum still have ways to install themes on Android Pie, but it requires root. On Samsung Experience 10, though, the Substratum team was able to get their theme engine working without root by using the Samsung theme engine. Users running the leaked Samsung Experience 10 beta on their Snapdragon Samsung Galaxy S9, Samsung Galaxy S9+, or Samsung Galaxy Note 9 can now use Substratum to theme their phone.
Hyperion is a new launcher by the makers of Substratum
Hyperion Launcher is an interesting, highly customizable launcher, brought to you by the same folks who developed the Substratum theme engine.
Some XDA users—especially theme aficionados—will agree that Substratum has been one of the best things to happen to Android development in years. With the demise of the CyanogenMod theme engine, the community needed an alternative. Substratum isn't perfect, but it can be used on pretty much every unrooted Android Oreo device and rooted Android Pie device. The developers of Substratum are now back with another project: a highly-customizable launcher called Hyperion which definitely deserves some of our attention.
Customize the Always on Display on the OnePlus 6/5T/5
If you ever wanted to customise the Always on Display on your OnePlus 6, OnePlus 5T or OnePlus 5, now you can! Check it out here.
OnePlus smartphones are subject to some of the most creative modifications on our forums. With a huge amount of custom ROMs available, OnePlus-specific Magisk modules, and more, it's clear that these devices are a favorite for development. Now, thanks to XDA Senior Member Udzi, you can customize the Always on Display on the OnePlus 6, OnePlus 5T, and the OnePlus 5. All you need is Substratum, either via root or Andromeda. You can download Substratum below, along with Andromeda if your device isn't rooted.
Substratum Hub
Substratum is a theming tool that can apply system-wide themes with or without root. This is a hub for everything you need to know about Substratum.
If you're interested in giving your Android phone a brand new look, there are few tools as powerful as Substratum. With just a few simple steps, you can completely change the look of the UI on your device. This hub has everything you need to get started with Substratum.
Get Status Bar Clock Tweaks for Android P [Root]
XDA Recognized Contributor has created a mod for Substratum called Statusbar Clock Tweaks for Android P that gives you back control of your status bar.
I for one have not been a fan of how Google has handled certain parts of Android P. They could have done the navigation gestures much better, and I feel they could have handled the placement of icons and information in the status bar better for notched displays. It may take time to get used to things like the time being on the left side of the status bar, but a new mod means you can move it back. XDA Recognized Contributor/Themer AL_IRAQI has created a mod for Substratum called Statusbar Clock Tweaks for P that gives you back control of your status bar.