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Is there still the issue of third party Android launchers being treated as second-class, not allowed access to features like gesture navigation? I haven't used one in a while.

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Nope! Third party launchers work just fine in GOS and other custom roms, with gesture navigation as well. The tough thing is that animations don't work well, at least in my experience. Most of the very slick "return to home" animations break on non-stock launchers, and it introduces stuttering on returning to home unless you're using 3-button navigation.

I probably wouldn't use an alternative launcher with those caveats attached. It seems the awkward animation thing may be a consequence of an Android security feature:

> Why is the recent screen buggy?

> Unfortunately, it is because the system launcher handles the Recents screen. Therefore, if you change the default launcher, weird things can happen [...] The only way to fix this is by having a Magisk module called QuickSwitch.

https://lawnchair.app/faq/#why-is-the-recent-screen-buggy

(Can't vouch for the accuracy of this information as of $CURRENT_ANDROID_VERSION.)

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