The com.lge.launcher3 app is found on LG devices running on the Android OS. If you own an LG device you might have come across this app running in the background just like the com.lge.ims.
In this article, I’ll explain what is the com.lge.launcher3 app, what is it used for, can you uninstall it, and my recommended third-party Android launchers.
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What does com.lge.launcher3 mean?
com.lge.launcher3 is the default built-in Android system Launcher for LG devices that is used to launch apps and customize the home screen of your Android device.
It is the most basic launcher available for your LG device like other built-in Android launchers. This launcher doesn’t provide a lot of customization and other smart features that are available in third-party Android launchers.
What is a Launcher on Android devices?
A Launcher is a system application that modifies the User Interface(UI) and other features of your device’s Operating System. It is used to customize the home screen, launch apps, add or remove widgets, and perform other tasks on your Android device. The Launcher is what you see during device bootup and it provides a medium to store all your installed apps.
The built-in launcher is usually very basic and doesn’t provide a lot of customization options which is why Android users prefer third-party launchers.
These third-party launchers allow you to customize the look and feel of your home screen, add or remove widgets, add or remove apps, provide a ton of themes and wallpapers and also provide smart features like Smart Lock, One Tap Silent Notifications, etc. that provide a better User experience(UX).
“Unfortunately, Launcher3 has Stopped Working”
When the Launcher app crashes, you get an error message like “Unfortunately, Launcher3 has Stopped Working” or “Unfortunately, Launcher has Stopped Working.”
These error messages occur due to a corrupted cache or some third-party app that you recently installed on your phone.
If you don’t clear the app cache for a long time, the cache files become corrupted and could lead to app crashes and malfunctions similar to what the error message you see with the Launcher app.
Sometimes, a recently installed third-party app can cause a lack of memory for the Launcher app and cause it to crash randomly.
How to fix “Unfortunately, Launcher3 has Stopped Working” on LG smartphones?
You can fix the “Unfortunately, Launcher3 has Stopped Working” error messages by following the methods mentioned below.
(1) Clear Launcher App Cache
If the error is due to a corrupted cache then clearing the app cache will fix the problem.
Step 1 – Go to Settings.
Step 2 – Tap on Apps.
Step 3 – Tap on the Ellipsis icon (3 vertical dots) in the upper right corner.
Step 4 – Tap on Show System Apps.
Step 5 – Search for com.lge.launcher3 and tap on it.
Step 6 – Tap on Storage.
Step 7 – Tap on the Clear Cache button.
(2) Uninstall Recently Installed Applications
Sometimes this error message can occur due to an app that you recently installed on your device. Please, check all the apps that you recently installed or updated by going to Settings > Apps.
After figuring out the app that’s causing the issue, make sure to Uninstall it and hopefully, the error message will stop appearing.
(3) Factory Reset your LG Android Smartphone
A Factory Reset erases all the data from your phone and restores your phone to its original state. If you can’t fix the error message using the methods mentioned above then a factory reset will hopefully remove this error message for good.
Before factory resetting your device, you should backup your data in a Cloud service like Google Drive. After the backup is complete, follow the steps below to Factory Reset your Android device.
Step 1 – Go to Settings.
Step 2 – Tap on General.
Step 3 – Tap on Reset.
Step 4 – Tap on Factory Data Reset.
Step 5 – Tap on the “Reset” button and you may need to enter your PIN or password.
Step 6 – Tap on Delete all or Wipe Data and your phone will be reset.
Can you Uninstall com.lge.launcher3?
com.lge.launcher3 is a default system application so you cannot uninstall it in the traditional way you uninstall other apps. To uninstall com.lge.launcher3, you’ll need to use either the Android Debug Bridge(ADB) or the System App Remover application (requires root access).
Before you think of removing the default launcher com.lge.launcher3, you’ll need to install a third-party launcher that can replace your default launcher otherwise it could lead to serious malfunctions on your device.
I recommend that you keep the default launcher and don’t uninstall it because it is a system application and uninstalling system applications could lead to issues in the proper functioning of your device.
If the default launcher is giving you issues and causing errors then you can uninstall it but first, you have to download and install a third-party launcher. I have provided a list of the best Android launchers in the later sections so make sure to check it out.
How to Uninstall com.lge.launcher3?
You can uninstall com.lge.launcher3 using ADB or System App Remover application. Both the methods are mentioned below in detail.
Uninstall com.lge.launcher3 using ADB
ADB allows you to bring up a Unix shell so you can issue commands directly on the Android device. You’ll need a Windows PC to use ADB.
Here are the steps to uninstall com.lge.launcher3 using ADB.
Step 1 – Go to Settings > System > About phone.
Step 2 – Tap on the Build number 7 times to activate Developer Options.
Step 3 – Go back to the main Settings menu and tap on Developer Options to open it.
Step 4 – Enable USB debugging by tapping on it.
Step 5 – Download ADB on your PC.
Step 6 – Extract the ZIP file into a folder.
Step 7 – After extracting the ZIP file, open that folder.
Step 8 – Press and hold the shift button and right-click in a blank area.
Step 9 – Click on “Open Powershell window here.”
Step 10 – Enter the command adb devices.
Step 11 – Connect your Android device to the PC using a USB data cable.
Step 12 – Type the command adb shell pm uninstall –user 0 com.lge.launcher3 and press Enter to run this command. Wait for a few seconds and you’ll notice the app has been uninstalled from your device.
Note – To disable com.lge.launcher3 instead of uninstalling it, you need to replace “uninstall” with “disable” in Step 12 of the adb command shown above.
Uninstall com.lge.launcher3 using System App Remover
This method requires you to gain root access to your device. If you don’t know how to root your Android device then check our Android Rooting guide.
After gaining root access follow the steps below to uninstall com.lge.launcher3.
Step 1 – Download and install the System App Remover application.
Step 2 – Launch the System App Remover application, search for com.lge.launcher3, and tap the checkmark box next to the app.
Step 3 – Tap on the Uninstall button to completely uninstall the app and delete its data.
Best Third-Party Launchers for Android
Third-party launchers offer more customization options than default Launchers and are really popular among Android users. In this section, I have listed some of the best third-party launchers for Android devices.
(1) Nova Launcher
Nova Launcher is the most popular third-party launcher app in Android because it provides heaps of customization options and is very lightweight.
Nova lets you change the icon grid on your home screen, apply icon packs, customize the home screen and App drawer, provides multiple themes to choose from, creates app folders, and much more.
It has a Free as well as a Paid version. The paid version offers a lot more customization options, themes, and backgrounds than what you get in the Free version.
Pros
- Multiple customization options.
- Lightweight.
- Low CPU and RAM usage.
- Allows modification of App drawer style from horizontal to vertical scrolling.
- Provides custom icon packs.
- Multiple gestures to launch apps and shortcuts.
Cons
- Setup takes a lot of time.
- Paid version is very pricey.
- Free version doesn’t have a lot of customization options.
- Free version shows ads.
(2) Action Launcher
Action Launcher is another extremely popular launcher among Android users. It offers a wide range of customization options where you can choose the colors for your User Interface(UI) based on the wallpaper, change the look and feel of the device to a newer stock Android version.
You get new app icon packs, customize the app drawer, and hundreds of themes to choose from. It has a Free and a Paid version.
Pros
- A wide range of themes.
- Custom App icon packs.
- Lightweight and Responsive.
- Modify App Drawer.
- Multiple customization options.
Cons
- Free version has ads.
- Paid version is pricey.
(3) AIO Laucher
AIO Launcher changes the UI of your home screen from stock Android to a completely different look and feel.
It shows your RAM usage, Battery usage, News alerts, Frequently used apps, Last calls, and Last SMS in the form of widgets right on your home screen.
AIO Launcher is more geared towards changing the UI from stock Android to something new and offers beautiful themes, custom icon packs, allows app drawer modification and a lot more.
It also has a Free and a Paid version.
Pros
- Multiple widgets on the home screen.
- Paid version is very cheap.
- Custom app icon packs.
- Beautiful Themes.
- Allows App Drawer modification.
Cons
- Doesn’t have a lot of customization options.
- Doesn’t have a lot of themes to choose from.
- Has a lot of bloatware.
- Sometimes, you might notice a bit of lag.
(4) Hyperion Launcher
The Hyperion Launcher is a little different from your traditional launchers because it provides a much more Stock Android experience rather than a custom UI experience. You get a lot of customization options, themes, app icon packs, and more.
You also have the ability to change icon shapes, add and remove widgets like Google News from your home screen, and it also provides smart gestures to control basic actions.
It also has a Free version as well as a Paid version.
Pros
- Multiple customization options.
- Less bloatware.
- Low CPU and RAM usage.
- Paid version is cheap
Cons
- Has less themes than other lauchers.
- Fewer app icon packs.
- Doesn’t have a lot of widgets.
(5) Microsoft Launcher
Microsoft Launcher offers a ton of customization options with new App drawer scrolling, Newsfeed widget, expandable docks, a ton of themes, custom app icon packs, and much more. It was earlier known as Arrow Launcher but after its acquisition by Microsoft, they rebranded it as Microsoft Launcher.
Since it is owned by Microsoft, you get support and integration with native Microsoft applications like Office 365, Skype, Outlook, etc.
Pros
- Allows App drawer Horizontal and Vertical scrolling style.
- Provides built-in Micrsoft’s Bing search engine.
- Gesture control and customization.
- Windows PC integration.
Cons
- Doesn’t have a lot of themes and wallpapers to choose from.
- Doesn’ have a lot of custom app icon packs.
- High CPU and RAM usage so might notice some lag.
- Requires Microsoft Account to use.
(6) Smart Launcher 5
Smart Launcher 5 is another personal favorite of Android users. It provides a ton of features like resizable widgets, third-party app icon packs, adaptive icons, lots of themes, and wallpapers which leads to a much better overall user experience.
It has both a Free and a Paid version. The free version has limited features but the Paid version provides much more customization features like expanded gesture controls, vertical app drawer scrolling, and resizable popup widgets.
Pros
- Very easy to setup.
- Low CPU and RAM usage.
- Third-party app icon packs.
- Popup Widgets.
- Google Voice Assistant Support.
- Gesture control.
Cons
- Doesn’t have a ton of themes and wallpapers.
- Free version has ads of the Paid version.
- Limited customization options in the Free version.
How to Reset your Android Smartphone to the Default Launcher?
Even though third-party app launchers offer more customization features and a better user experience than the built-in launcher, a lot of users still prefer to use the built-in launcher because it works seamlessly with their mobile phone.
If you have a third-party launcher installed but want to switch to the built-in launcher then you need to set this launcher as the default launcher. The steps for doing this are mentioned below.
Step 1 – Go to Settings.
Step 2 – Tap on Apps.
Step 3 – Locate your built-in launcher and tap on it.
Step 4 – Tap on the “Set as default” option.
Step 5 – Tap on the “Clear defaults” option.
Step 6 – Tap on the Home button. You will get a notification asking you to select your default launcher. Tap on your built-in launcher and tap on the “Always” option to set the built-in launcher as your default launcher.
Conclusion
com.lge.launcher3 is the built-in launcher for LG devices with Android OS. It is used to customize your Home screen UI and launch apps. Sometimes, the launcher has issues and shows error messages like “Unfortunately, Launcher3 has Stopped Working.” You can fix these issues using the steps mentioned in the article.
You can uninstall the built-in launcher but you need a third-party launcher before you uninstall the built-in launcher. You can uninstall the built-in launcher using ADB or System app remover application.
If you have a third-party launcher but still want to use the built-in launcher then you need to set this launcher as your default launcher using the steps mentioned in this article.