Table of Contents

Phase 3: The Widgets (Functionality)

Widgets in Total Launcher are independent objects with specialized designs and features. They provide the functionality of a theme, acting as containers for apps, contacts, media controls, and system data.

Overview & Placement

The "Big 4" Drawers

These four widgets are the primary tools for organizing and browsing setup content.

App Drawer

This is a comprehensive list of all applications installed on the device.

App Drawer (Pager)

A specialized horizontal-scrolling drawer, similar to the standard Android experience.

App Group

A “Super Folder” that acts as a container for a specific set of items (Apps, Windows, Shortcuts).

Contacts

A specialized drawer for people.

Utility Widgets

These built-in widgets provide system control and status information. An expanded discussion of these and more can be viewed here.

Visual Tools

Widgets designed purely for navigation and aesthetics.

Application Widgets (3rd Party)

Total Launcher can host any application's standard Android widget (e.g., Gmail, Calendar) whose application is installed on the user's device.

Critical Warning: Backup & Restore Total Launcher saves the placeholder for 3rd party widgets, but it cannot save the widget's internal settings. * *Example:* When restoring a backup, a “Weather Widget” will appear as an empty gray box. It must be tapped to reinstall and then re-configured manually.

Widget Comparison Chart

Here is a quick reference guide to the capabilities of the four drawer types. If preferred, a complete reference comparison can be viewed here.

Feature App Drawer App Group App Drawer (Pager)
Contents All Apps (Auto) Manual Selection All Apps (Auto)
Scroll Vertical Vertical Vertical &
Horizontal
Menu Bar Yes No Yes
Sorting1) Smart / Name Manual Drag & Drop Smart / Name
Set Tags
within widget
Yes No Yes
Shared Options
within widget
Yes No Yes
1)
Smart Sort will display the most used apps within the App Drawer & App Drawer (Pager) widgets immediately following any folders included in the drawer. If this is not the desired effect, consider eliminating folders and instead use an App Group widget to manually set up “groups” (similar to folders) which will cause the App Drawer to show the “Smart Sort” at the beginning of the sort order.