Get the Android 12 Look on Any Android Phone for Free

I turned a Vivo V23 running Funtouch OS into a clean Android 12 look-alike without paying for anything. The same steps work on most Android phones from Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Realme and others, because you are only changing the home screen, not the system.

Here is what each app does, how to set it up and how to undo it if you change your mind.

How this works, in plain words

Android 12 introduced a design style called Material You. Its signature is that the icons, widgets and search bar pick up colors from your wallpaper, so the whole home screen matches.

Your phone's home screen is just an app called a launcher. You can replace it with a different launcher without rooting or changing the system. In this guide, Lawnchair becomes the new launcher and gives you the Material You look. Widgets and a Google wallpaper finish the effect.

What you need

• Lawnchair 12 and Lawnicons. The APK links are in the tools and files for this tutorial.
• Google's Wallpapers app, from the Play Store.
• Android 12 Clock Widgets and Android 12 Weather Widgets, from the Play Store.
• KWGT and Material Components for KWGT, from the Play Store.

A quick word about APK files

An APK is an Android app file installed directly instead of through the Play Store. Android asks you to allow Install unknown apps for the app you download it with, usually your browser or file manager. Only install APKs from the developer's official page or a trusted source, and turn that permission off again afterwards.

Step 1: Install Lawnchair and set it as default

1. Install the Lawnchair and Lawnicons APKs. Allow Install unknown apps if asked.
2. Open Settings, search for Default, open Default home app and choose Lawnchair.

Lawnicons is an icon pack that gives many popular apps a simple, single-color icon that can follow your wallpaper colors.

Step 2: Match the Android 12 style

1. Long-press the home screen and open Home settings.
2. In General, turn on Themed icons.
3. Set Accent color to Wallpaper, so colors follow your background.
4. In Dock, turn on the search bar and apply the accent color.
5. In App drawer, set background opacity to 80–90%.

Step 3: Pick a wallpaper

Open the Wallpapers app, go to Categories, choose a Google wallpaper (I used the Pixel 6 Pro one) and set it on both screens. The icons and search bar change color automatically. Try a few wallpapers. Each one gives the whole home screen a different color theme.

Step 4: Add widgets

1. In Android 12 Clock Widgets, pick a free theme and add it to the home screen.
2. In Android 12 Weather Widgets, set your city manually, pick a free style and add it.
3. For quick toggles, add a KWGT widget (4x4), tap it and choose Material Toggles from Material Components. Grant the permissions it asks for.

KWGT is a widget builder. On its own it is an empty frame, and Material Components is a pack of ready-made designs you load into it.

Tip: Icons from apps without a themed version will not change color. Remove them from the home screen, or keep them in a folder, for the cleanest look.

How to undo it

Open Settings, search for Default, open Default home app and choose your phone's original launcher again. Everything comes back as it was. You can then uninstall Lawnchair and the widget apps.

Common questions

Does this slow down my phone?

Lawnchair is light, and on most phones it feels just as fast as the built-in launcher. Very old phones may feel a little slower with many widgets.

Will I lose my apps or data?

No. A launcher only changes how your apps are arranged. Your apps, photos and settings are not touched.

The short version

Install Lawnchair and Lawnicons, set Lawnchair as your default home app, turn on themed icons and wallpaper accent colors, pick a Google wallpaper and add the free Android 12 widgets. To undo it, switch the default home app back.