On our mobile phone Android there are applications that, despite being, are hidden. Therefore, they do not have an icon in the application drawer to launch them, something that can be solved with Pixel Shortcuts.
Pixel Shortcuts: the solution found by the creator of Action Launcher
Firstly, How was Pixel Shortcuts born? This new application is created by the same development team of ActionLauncher, one of the main ones on Android and one of the direct rivals of Nova Launcher. When Chris lacy installed Android 9 Pie and signed up for the Digital Wellbeing beta, he discovered something that he did not like: it did not have a shortcut in the application drawer, but it was located in the settings menu of the device.
That surprised him and above all, he did not like it. What was this due to? Two options were presented to him: Either he complained about it or he fixed it on his own. Said and done: Pixel Shortcuts was born, an application capable of creating shortcuts to hidden Android applications, showing a direct icon in the application drawer not only for Digital Wellbeing, but also for the launchers installed in the terminal.
How Pixel Shortcuts works
If for something stands out Pixel Shortcuts, is for its simplicity. Once you install it from the Play Store and open it, it will detect the hidden applications on your device that you can show as an icon in the application drawer. Thus, for the moment it offers shortcuts to Digital Wellbeing, as well as for the Pixel Launcher, Action Launcher and any other custom launcher on your mobile. Of course, the occasion is used to promote Action Launcher, something that turns out to be one of the semi-hidden objectives of Pixel Shortcuts.
From there, each app has a switch that you can turn on or off. Just do what you want to make the icons appear or disappear from the drawer. The second option is to use the app's widgets, which will allow direct access only on the desktop. You can end up combining both if you prefer.
Possible use cases
Yes it is true that creating shortcuts to launchers It may not be the most attractive to some people, but if you are used to switching from one to the other to test different functions, it can be very useful. Both in this case and for digital wellness, It is useful. You will save having to navigate through menus and, in return, a single press will suffice.