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Niagara becomes unresponsive intermittently / Wrong app opens

Bug ReportsConfirmedBlockedHas Workaround

There is a bug where Niagara Launcher's UI freezes after unlocking your device. You can still interact with it but won't get any visual feedback. This can lead to different apps opening from the one you tap on (because there is a different entry where you tap, but you cannot see that).

Usually, force quitting Niagara Launcher temporarily fixes the issue.

Another workaround is granting Niagara Launcher the accessibility permission. However, this seems to not work for everyone.

Statement

We have reproduced the issue on some devices. This is just one cause and it seems there are others.

Our current theory is that the issue appears on devices running Android 14. When the screen is locked and another application takes charge of its awake state, Niagara Launcher and other third-party launchers have issues realizing they are in the foreground after unlocking the device and thus will not update their UI while staying responsive to actions. This takeover was reproduced via Tasker opening an app in the background while the device screen is turned off, using Google Assistant, and receiving a call.

We need your help

This issue is an Android incompatibility with third-party launchers in general, please check the information below to see how you can help!

Responding to this survey might help (amongst other things related to custom launchers) with solving this issue from the platform side 🤞 See the announcement of the survey and this news article for context (from @Wikiwix on GitHub)

Possible workaround

If this sounds like what you are affected by, please read the section below describing a possible workaround. We would appreciate others confirming this information.

Massive thanks to @burny90 for finding the following information:

Steps to reproduce the issue on devices it appears on:

  • navigate to the home screen

  • turn off the screen

  • have an application activate the screen in some way (ask Google Assistant a question / let Tasker open an app)

  • go back to the lock screen (use back navigation)

  • unlock the phone

  • notice that the home screen UI is unresponsive

Workaround instructions

Please react to this post with :tada:, if this workaround worked for you and with :-1: if it did not work.

  • go to your system settings

  • tap Accessibility

  • tap Niagara Launcher

  • tap the toggle and allow Niagara Launcher accessibility access

Workarounds worked for:

DeviceAndroid versionAndroid flavorNiagara versionReporter

Pixel 7 Pro

Android 14

-

1.12.6

Jim (via mail)

Links

For our help page entry for this bug, please refer to this article.

Manufacturer and Device Name
Android Version
Problem occurs with other Launchers
Posted by Tamino Fackler ·
Status: Operating System Bug10 comments

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Comments10

  • João Santos

    •

    Aug 10, 2025

    Smame here, but killing Niagara or enabling it in accessibility doesn't work.

    Honor Magic V2 with magic OS Android 15

  • Róbert Haladej

    •

    Jun 17, 2025

    Niagara Launcher…why can not I even edit submission ugh!

    • Max Rumpf

      Team•

      Jun 20, 2025

      Fixed it, and merged your request into an existing issue with the same cause.

      • Misty Jay

        •

        Feb 24

        How did you fix this?

  • webdroid

    •

    Aug 3, 2025

    :-1: Workaround didn’t work. Lag of around 5-10 seconds when pressing “recent app” button still occuring on Android 16, Pixel 9 Pro XL. I filled out the survey above. Hope that will help a bit. All the best!

  • Vincent

    •

    Jan 1

    :-1:

    I've been having this issue since April of last year…

    The launcher is “not working” with accessibility work around.

    Android Version 15

    One UI Version 7

    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

    The app has become unusable and freezes constantly.

  • KiKi 117

    •

    Apr 5

    i have the issue on Galaxy A72, Apparently it's because I installed Google Gemini; it didn't happen before. I blamed it on my high DPI, but no, it's a problem with the launcher thinking it's no longer in the foreground and not updating the screen. What I do is go to the notification bar and open settings, then I look for Niagara and force stop.Since it's set by default, I just close settings and it opens normally.

  • David Eimer

    •

    Jun 7

    Accessibility access: enabled Force-stopping and reinstalling Niagara did not resolve the issue.

    Android version: 13

    Device: OPPO Reno6 8/128

    Android flavor: ColorOS 13

    Niagara version: 1.16.7

  • Jesper Rydder

    •

    Sep 2

    When I set up Niagara launcher the way I prefer it, it freezes for approximately two seconds every time I go to my home screen. I have the paid version.

    I've done some research online, and I can see this is a major problem for users of Oppo and other Chinese brands.

    I never had this problem on Samsung phones, but I had a Honor Magic V5 before and now a OPPO find X9 Pro running Android 16 with ColorOS where I cannot find a workaround this problem.

  • Andy Kluger

    •

    Nov 26, 2025

    :tada: