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How To Get Android Nougat App Shortcuts On Your Smartphone [Guide]

Google released Android 7.0 Nougat update last year in August. This update brought new features like multi-window support, improved Doze mode, direct reply, quick switch and over 1500 emojis to name a few. Well, later in December, Google released another update to Nougat with version 7.1.1. This update not only made it possible to send GIFs straight from your keyboard, but, also came with something cool called App Shortcuts.

With App Shortcuts, you can long press on an app’s icon to quickly jump to an action. This can be done either by long pressing the app icon in the app drawer, or from the homescreen. This is similar to Apple’s 3D Touch. Well, this feature is only available in Android 7.1.1., and, the only devices that are rocking this version of Android right now are Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus Player, Pixel C and General Mobile 4G (Android One).

If you are someone who doesn’t own any of the above mentioned devices but still want to get Android Nougat app shortcuts on your smartphone, it’s possible. How? Read on.

How to get Android Nougat app shortcuts on your smartphone

Step 1: If you want to get Android Nougat app shortcuts on your smartphone, you will have to download the Beta version of Nova Launcher. Click here to enroll yourself in the Beta program (you can also download the app’s apk file from here). It will take a couple of minutes for Google to enroll you in the Beta program. Once done, you will see the message “You’re a beta tester for this app“.

Do note that this is the Beta version of the app and may not work properly, so proceed at your own risk.

Step 2: After you have been enrolled in the Beta program, open Play Store and install Nova Launcher. As soon as the installation is finished and you press back or home button, you will be asked whether to proceed with your smartphone’s default launcher or Nova Launcher. Go with the Nova Launcher.

Step 3: Now keep tapping on ‘Next‘ through the initial setup wizard. However, do select your preferences when presented with different options during the process.

When asked to choose the app drawer drawer action, choose Swipe Up instead of Button and then tap on ‘Apply‘.

Well that’s it, you get Android Nougat app shortcuts on your smartphone after performing the above mentioned steps.

App Shortcuts on Twitter and Yahoo Mail

To see app shortcuts, just long press on the app icon and you will see multiple options. For example, if you long press on Twitter’s app icon, you will see shortcuts for a new Tweet, a new message, scan QR code or do a search.

App shortcuts in action

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Even if you get Android Nougat app shortcuts on your smartphone with this method, chances are it may not work properly because this feature is still in Beta on Nova Launcher. Also, while most of the Google apps worked perfectly, some apps like Google Chrome didn’t show their default app shortcuts like opening new tabs. Same is the case with third-party apps like LinkedIn which have app shortcut support.

You will still see app shortcuts after you long-press on any app, however, the shortcuts you will see are Edit, Remove, App Info and Uninstall. While app shortcuts are only supported natively on Android 7.1.1. Nougat, we were able to get them on our OnePlus 3 which is running Android 7.0 Nougat.

Some users were also reportedly able to get Android Nougat app shortcuts on their smartphones which are running on Android 5.1.1. Lollipop, Android 6.0 and 6.0.1. Marshmallow. If you own a smartphone which runs on any of these operating systems, do give this a try.

Do let us know if you were able to get Android Nougat app shortcuts on your smartphone. For more, you can always head on to our ‘How-To Guides‘ section.