A surprising comeback for a long‑loved launcher
Nova Launcher—one of Android's longest‑running and most customizable home‑screen replacements—appeared to be on life support after its original developers departed following an acquisition. But in early November 2025 users noticed something unexpected: two updates in quick succession. A surprise v8.1.3 release began rolling out last week, and a v8.1.4 beta has already been spotted by community members.
For long‑time users, the quick cadence is reason for cautious optimism: active fixes are better than abandonment. For others, the releases underscore how uncertain the app's future still is.
What the updates actually are
The v8.1.3 update that first appeared was not, by most accounts, a burst of new development. Former Nova developer Rob Wainwright explained that 8.1.3 largely consisted of work the original team completed more than a year ago but never shipped. The follow‑up v8.1.4 — first noticed by Reddit user Dankees98 in the Nova subreddit — is a beta focused on bug fixes and stability rather than headline features.
Taken together, the two updates look like a maintenance push: release some previously finished work, then follow up quickly to patch issues users report. That pragmatic approach is welcome to users who rely on Nova as the daily interface for their phones.
Who's steering the ship now?
The largest open question is organizational. Nova's creator, Kevin Barry, confirmed his departure from Branch Metrics in September 2025, and Wainwright has reiterated that "nobody in the original Nova Launcher team works at Branch Metrics anymore." Branch acquired the launcher in 2022, and the company now holds stewardship of the codebase — but which engineers inside Branch (or elsewhere) will maintain Nova going forward is not publicly known.
That uncertainty has practical consequences: future feature work, release cadence, and security or compatibility fixes depend on the resources Branch commits. Community members have pointed out that shipping updates is one thing; maintaining user trust and a roadmap is another.
Privacy and analytics concerns
Wainwright's public note also contained an important caveat: because the original team is gone, they "can't make any promises regarding data collection or analytics." Branch is known for analytics products, and some users worry that telemetry may increase under new stewardship.
For now, Nova still offers settings that let users disable or limit certain permissions and features, and many power users routinely back up their Nova profiles in case they need to migrate to another launcher. But the possibility of increased analytics — and the lack of clear commitments from Branch — has pushed privacy‑conscious users to re‑evaluate their continued use.
Community reaction: relief, skepticism, and contingency planning
The reaction has been mixed. Some longtime fans expressed relief that the app continues to receive fixes. Others describe the updates as a bittersweet last hurrah: useful, but possibly among the final acts from the original team. A separate group is treating this as a transition point — keeping Nova for now but preparing to switch if maintenance slows.
Practical community responses include:
- Backing up Nova layouts and settings regularly.
- Delaying purchases of Nova Prime until the app's future looks more stable.
- Testing alternatives now so migration is painless if needed.
- Back up your Nova profile to local or cloud storage — restoring a layout is far easier than rebuilding it.
- Audit Nova permissions (notification access, usage access) and disable anything you don't need.
- Try the free version first rather than immediately buying Prime, given the uncertainty around long‑term support.
- Keep an eye on beta channels and community forums (Reddit, X) for early reports of issues with new builds.
- Lawnchair — clean, Pixel‑style look with strong customization and a free model.
- Action Launcher — feature‑rich and configurable, with unique conveniences like Quicktheme and Covers.
- Niagara — minimalist, one‑hand‑friendly interface that rethinks the home screen.
- Microsoft Launcher — good for users tied into Microsoft's ecosystem and productivity features.
If you use Nova today: what to do
If Nova is central to your daily workflow, consider these steps:
Alternatives to consider
For users who want to hedge their bets, several capable launchers are available:
Each has tradeoffs in customization depth, performance, and privacy; try a couple to find what matches your priorities.
The bottom line
The surprise 8.1.3 release and rapid 8.1.4 beta suggest Nova Launcher is not abandoned — Branch is shipping fixes — but the departure of the original development team leaves major questions about stewardship, feature development, and data practices. For now, users can enjoy continued bug fixes and stability improvements, but prudent backups and contingency planning make sense until Branch offers a clearer, long‑term roadmap.
Nova's story is not over, but it's entered a new chapter — one being watched closely by a loyal, vocal community.