Set as default
The first launch can show a light onboarding page: SKIP at the top, the ArcShorts mark, a fan of tilted poster previews with a prompt “Make ArcShorts your default home app?”, and the line “Set ArcShorts as your default home app.” The primary action is Get Started. A short note under the button says it only takes a few seconds and can be changed anytime. That opens Android’s Default home app list with ArcShorts selected. After ArcShorts is chosen, a continue page confirms Home is ready, with a different set of posters. Continue opens the Home screen. SKIP continues to the Home screen without that step.
Android explains that apps often called launchers replace the Home screens on your device. Choosing another Home app leaves the system desktop in place.
What the desktop includes
- Home wallpaper (light by default; Night mode turns it black)
- Clock with device time and date
- System-style search capsule
- Continue watching widget
- Shorts, Discover, Me, History icons
- Two page dots: an extra content screen and Home
- A glass dock that opens Phone, Messages, Browser, and Camera through the system
Clock
The clock follows the device timezone and 12/24-hour setting. It refreshes about once a minute. It only displays time and date. Tapping it does not open a clock app. It is not an alarm, world clock, stopwatch, or weather widget.
Continue watching
A white card shows the ArcShorts mark, the title, episode, a progress bar, and Continue. If you have no progress, it can show a recommended title with Start. Tapping the card or the button opens the player for that episode.
Shortcuts
Four white icons sit under the widget, drawn as simple line marks:
- Shorts — opens the Shorts tab
- Discover — opens Discover
- Me — opens Me
- History — opens Watch history
If the app is already warm, those entries open the page directly. A cold start may show an opening advertisement first, then the page you chose.
App drawer and extra screen
Swipe up for the app drawer: a light All apps list with search. Swipe toward the extra screen for another browse surface with shortcuts, continue watching, categories, and posters. That extra screen is optional. You can live on Home and the three app tabs only.
Themes
Themes has one Night mode switch. Off keeps the default light desktop. On turns the Home screen black. It applies immediately and does not restyle Shorts or Discover. There is no paid skin store and no photo-picker wallpaper in V1.
Change the Home app later
Open Android Settings → Default apps → Home app, then pick another launcher. Help & about in the app repeats this path. Settings also has a Default home app row that can open the system picker again.