Microsoft Launcher Review: The Best Launcher for Android

If you live in the Microsoft ecosystem — Outlook calendars, To Do lists, OneDrive, a Windows PC — Microsoft Launcher promises to make your Android phone feel like an extension of that world. In this review I’ll walk through what the launcher does well, where it falls short, and whether it’s worth switching home screens for. Expect real-world testing, privacy and permission checks, setup tips, and a clear recommendation at the end.

Summary

Microsoft Launcher is an excellent choice if you want tight Microsoft/Windows integration on Android: a clean customizable home screen, a productivity-focused feed, and helpful continuity features for moving content between phone and PC. It’s not the most minimal launcher for folks who prize tiny permission sets, and power-launcher fans (Nova, Lawnchair) still beat it on raw tweakability — but for Windows-first users it’s one of the best off-the-shelf options. (See Microsoft’s Play Store listing and docs for basic feature details.)

What is Microsoft Launcher?

Microsoft Launcher is a homescreen replacement for Android that replaces the default home, dock and app drawer and surfaces a personalized productivity feed with calendar, tasks and quick actions. It evolved from Arrow Launcher and was rebranded and expanded by Microsoft to tie Android phones more closely into the Windows and Microsoft 365 experience. You can download it from the Play Store and install it like any other launcher.

Origins: Arrow → Microsoft Launcher

Originally known as Arrow Launcher, the app was adopted and grown by Microsoft into a fuller experience. Over the years Microsoft has added tighter integrations (timeline in the past, Teams/Edge links, and task syncs) to make the app feel like Microsoft’s Android front-end. Some historical features (like Windows Timeline integration) have been added and later removed as Microsoft refocuses integration paths.

Where to get it and compatibility

Get Microsoft Launcher from the Google Play Store. It’s regularly updated and supported on a wide range of Android devices; enterprise deployments can be configured with Intune for managed devices. If you manage corporate phones, Microsoft provides docs for configuring Launcher through Intune.

Core features at a glance

Microsoft Launcher keeps things familiar but with Microsoft-flavored productivity extras.

Home screen, app drawer and gestures

Out of the box you get a typical launcher experience: a grid-based home screen, swipable app drawer, and handy gestures (double-tap, swipe up/down, pinch options depending on your device). The launcher supports importing your existing home layout so switching is painless.

Personalized feed: calendar, tasks, Sticky Notes

The Launcher has a left-side personalized feed (cards) that shows your calendar, Microsoft To Do tasks, Sticky Notes, recent documents and suggested actions — a quick glance to see what matters next. It’s like a mini dashboard attached to your home screen, and it can be pinned as its own screen for constant visibility.

Windows integration (Your Phone flow, Edge, Office)

Microsoft Launcher emphasizes continuity: you can open recent PC documents, continue browsing in Edge on the PC, or move pictures and links between devices. While Windows Timeline support was experimented with and later removed, the broader flow between phone and Windows is still a selling point for the launcher.

Customization: themes, icon packs, wallpapers

Customizable themes, accent colors, icon size/grid controls and Bing/own wallpapers make the launcher flexible. It’s not the deepest theming engine (compared to some third-party launchers), but the basics are polished and easy for non-tech users to manage.

Productivity extras that matter

Microsoft Launcher isn’t just a pretty front — it’s built for productivity.

Microsoft account / 365 tie-ins (To Do, Outlook, OneDrive)

Sign in with your Microsoft account and the launcher surfaces your Outlook calendar, To Do tasks, and OneDrive files directly in the feed. That means your task list and calendar are a swipe away without launching separate apps — a nice time-saver if you already use Microsoft services.

Feed cards and quick actions

Cards in the feed are actionable: tap to create a task, open a document, or jump to a calendar event. They’re intentionally simple so you can act fast — like sticky Post-its that know your schedule. It’s a practical little productivity hack that eliminates friction for common actions.

Enterprise features: Intune configuration & management

For organizations, Microsoft provides Intune integration so admins can configure launcher settings, enforce policies, and deploy company-configured home screens. That makes Microsoft Launcher easier to manage in corporate fleets than many consumer-only launchers. If your IT team uses Intune, Launcher is a sensible choice to maintain consistency.

Performance, battery and resource use

A launcher should be light and snappy. Let’s see how Microsoft Launcher behaves day-to-day.

Real-world responsiveness and memory use

On modern phones the launcher is responsive: smooth scrolling, fast app drawer searches, and snappy gestures. It’s comparable to stock launchers in most basic operations. Heavy feeds or synced items can add background activity — but for casual users the difference is negligible. Reviews and recent roundups include Microsoft Launcher among recommended launchers for 2025.

Background permissions — what it asks for and why

Because it syncs calendars, tasks and files, Microsoft Launcher requests a broader set of permissions than ultra-minimal launchers. That includes calendar, storage (to surface photos), account access, and notification access. Granting these enables features like feed cards and quick actions, but it’s worth reviewing what you allow. Independent analyses show Microsoft Launcher requests more permissions than some minimal launchers — a trade-off for deeper integration.

Privacy & permissions — what to watch for

Launchers sit at the front door of your phone — privacy matters.

Microsoft’s privacy stance and data handling

Microsoft publishes privacy documentation that explains what data it collects and why. When you sign in with a Microsoft account, certain metadata and sync data are handled under Microsoft’s privacy policies; the Launcher’s feed relies on account data to surface calendar and To Do content. For most users this is acceptable, but always check the privacy pages if you have regulatory or sensitive data concerns.

Third-party analysis of launcher permissions

Third-party testers and blog analyses note Microsoft Launcher’s relatively large permission set compared with minimal alternatives. That’s not inherently bad — it’s the cost of integration — but it does mean privacy-minded users who want the fewest permissions may prefer a lighter launcher. If minimal permission exposure is your top priority, pick a launcher that explicitly minimizes access.

Hands-on: Day-to-day workflows

How does Launcher change actual phone usage? Here are two common scenarios.

Switching from Pixel/Nova — what changes

If you’re coming from Pixel Launcher you’ll notice more productivity cards and Microsoft-shaped behavior (To Do, Sticky Notes). From Nova you’ll miss some deep customization, but you’ll gain easy access to cross-device continuity and a built-in feed for quick tasks. The swap is straightforward: import your layout and remap gestures if needed.

Continuity: open things on PC from phone and vice versa

One of the nicest touches: links to recent PC documents and web pages (when supported) let you pick up work on your PC or push a photo to your desktop. While earlier Timeline features were experimental and later deprecated, the general “continue on PC” flow remains a convenience for Windows-heavy users.

Customization

Microsoft Launcher balances simplicity with enough options to feel personalized.

Icon grid, gestures, and dock tweaks

You can change grid sizes, change whether labels appear, choose app drawer styles, and map gestures to actions. For most users these options are sufficient; power users who want per-icon gestures or deeply scripted behaviors may still prefer Nova or other advanced launchers.

Theme engine and wallpaper options

The launcher pulls Bing wallpapers, lets you pick static images, and supports dark/light themes and accent color choices. The result is a home screen that looks modern without needing manual tweaking every day.

Stability, updates & developer support

Update cadence and beta channels

Microsoft maintains the launcher with periodic updates; previews and changelogs appear on the Play Store and Microsoft docs. It’s stable on the major Android versions and receives fixes for compatibility and security. If you want bleeding-edge features you can look for beta builds, but stable releases are reliable for daily use.

Compatibility with OEM skins and Android versions

Most OEM skins (Samsung One UI, Pixel UI, OxygenOS) work fine with Microsoft Launcher, but some device-specific behaviors (gesture conflicts, battery optimizers) may require tweaking settings or whitelisting the launcher from aggressive battery management. That’s a common quirk with third-party launchers.

Comparison: Microsoft Launcher vs Top Launchers

Microsoft Launcher vs Nova, Pixel, Lawnchair

• Nova: More granular customization, plugins, and deep tweakability — better for power users.

• Pixel Launcher: Minimal, tightly integrated with Google services — best if you want Google-first experience.

• Lawnchair: Lightweight and open-source alternative with good balance.

Microsoft Launcher wins if you want native Microsoft/Windows continuity and built-in productivity cards; Nova wins if you want ultimate home-screen control. Recent ecosystem changes (like Nova’s team situation) make Microsoft Launcher a stronger mainstream contender for users wanting a supported, actively developed option.

When Microsoft Launcher is the better choice

If your work life lives in Microsoft 365, and you want calendar/tasks/Sticky Notes surfaced without extra apps, Microsoft Launcher reduces friction and saves taps. For corporate devices managed in Intune, Launcher is easier to standardize and control.

Problems users report & troubleshooting

Feed sync failures, notifications, and missing widgets

Some users report intermittent feed sync issues (it happens with any cloud-integrated app), notification permission quirks, or widgets that disappear after OS updates. Typical fixes include re-logging the Microsoft account, clearing the launcher cache, or reinstalling the app.

Fixes: cache clear, account re-login, regranting permissions

If something breaks: check battery optimization settings, ensure the launcher is whitelisted, clear app data/cache, and re-authorize Microsoft account permissions (calendar, storage, notifications). Those steps fix most common issues. For enterprises, your Intune admin can push settings centrally.

Who should use Microsoft Launcher? — Recommended profiles

• Microsoft 365 users who want quick access to calendar, To Do and OneDrive.

• Hybrid workers and students who switch constantly between phone and Windows PC.

• IT teams deploying managed Android devices (Intune-friendly).

• Casual users who want a polished, supported launcher without deep customization.

Avoid it if you want the absolute smallest permission footprint or the deepest UI scripting and gestures Nova offers.

Final verdict — pros, cons and recommendation

Pros

• Excellent Microsoft/Windows continuity and 365 integration.

• Polished UI and useful productivity feed (calendar, tasks, Sticky Notes).

• Intune configuration for enterprise management.

Cons

• Larger permission set than ultra-minimal launchers — trade-off for integration.

• Not as deeply customizable as Nova or other power-user launchers.

Recommendation: If you use Microsoft services and a Windows PC daily, Microsoft Launcher is an efficient, well-supported choice. If you value extreme customization or minimal permissions above integration, consider alternatives.

Conclusion

Microsoft Launcher hits a sweet spot: clean-looking home screens, a productivity-first feed, and tight ties to Microsoft 365 and Windows. It’s not the ultimate toy for home-screen tinkerers, but for people who want their phone to behave like an extension of their Windows workstation, it’s hard to beat. Try the free launcher from the Play Store, import your layout, and see if the feed and continuity features save you time — if they do, you’ve found a keeper.

FAQs

Q1 — Is Microsoft Launcher free?
Yes. Microsoft Launcher is free to download from the Google Play Store and does not have a paid unlock; some integrated features rely on having a Microsoft account or Microsoft 365 subscription.

Q2 — Will Microsoft Launcher slow my phone?
On modern devices no — performance is comparable to many stock launchers. Background sync for feed cards can use resources, so if you see slowdowns, adjust feed settings or whitelist the app in battery settings.

Q3 — Can IT admins manage Microsoft Launcher on company phones?
Yes — Microsoft provides Intune configuration for Microsoft Launcher so admins can deploy and enforce settings on managed devices.

Q4 — Does Microsoft Launcher send my data to Microsoft?
The launcher uses your Microsoft account to surface calendar, tasks and documents; Microsoft handles this data under its privacy policies. Review Microsoft’s privacy documentation for details on what is collected and how it’s used.

Q5 — How does Microsoft Launcher compare to Nova Launcher?
Nova offers deeper customization and is preferred by power users; Microsoft Launcher trades some of that tweakability for built-in Microsoft integrations and enterprise manageability. Choose based on whether integration or customization matters more to you.