# Wear Gesture Launcher - WearOS

> Simply Launch your apps by drawing letters or shapes on your watch!

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.format.gesturelauncher](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.format.gesturelauncher)

## Overview

- **ID:** `com.format.gesturelauncher`
- **Platform:** Android
- **Type:** Android app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** HenryZ
- **Category:** PRODUCTIVITY
- **Downloads:** 82,368
- **Rating:** 4.00 / 5 (373 ratings)
- **Version:** VARY
- **Last updated:** 2018-06-04
- **First published:** 2017-10-15
- **Publisher country:** GB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-11
- **Store listing:** [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.format.gesturelauncher)
- **Website:** [https://bit.ly/wgl-donate](https://bit.ly/wgl-donate)
- **Privacy policy:** [http://henryzt.com/wgl/privacy\_policy.html](http://henryzt.com/wgl/privacy_policy.html)

## Description

Wear Gesture Launcher for Android Wear OS offers a unique way to launch apps by drawing letters or shapes directly on your smartwatch. Say goodbye to scrolling through long lists of tiny icons. This standalone app supports launching mobile apps, making calls, and integrating with Tasker for customized automation. It's compatible with Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and iOS devices, providing vibration feedback and gesture preload for popular apps. Although no longer actively developed, it remains functional and welcomes user support.

Key features include tapping the screen edge to open the launcher, creating custom patterns for app launch, and managing tasks directly from the watch. Future updates aim to add theater mode and quick volume or brightness controls using gestures. This gesture-based launcher revolutionizes the way you interact with your Wear OS device, enhancing usability and efficiency on the go.

## Rankings

- #241,121 — Overall

## Review summary

Users appreciate the innovative gesture launcher concept, praising its gesture recognition and potential to improve watch navigation. However, many report significant issues, including poor compatibility with newer Wear OS devices, unreliable gesture detection requiring multiple tries, persistent annoying notifications, app instability, and slow launch speeds. While praised for its potential and developer support, the app requires updates to fix bugs and improve performance on modern devices to fulfill its promise.

### Pros

- Innovative and cool concept for gesture-based launching on Wear OS devices.
- Gesture recognition works surprisingly well, even with imperfect drawings.
- Enables quick and intuitive app launching, improving watch usability.
- Highly appreciated by some users, who find it better than other launchers and very useful especially when integrated with apps like Tasker.
- Developer responsive and supportive, with willingness to consider updates.

### Cons

- Poor compatibility with newer devices and Wear OS versions, especially Galaxy Watch 4 and Oppo Watch.
- Unreliable gesture detection and launch function, often requiring multiple attempts to succeed.
- Permanent and unremovable notification related to overlay or draw over permission, which annoys users.
- App closes or stops working unexpectedly making syncing and usage frustrating.
- Slow app launch times, sometimes taking several seconds which reduces usability.

## Similar extensions and apps

- [Launcher for Wear OS watches](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.appfour.wearlauncher) — 246,734 users, 3.73 / 5
- [Tile Launcher For Wear OS](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.ultimatewatchface.applauncher) — 1,461 users, 4.57 / 5
- [BIG Launcher Wearable](https://chrome-stats.com/d/name.kunes.android.launcher.wearable) — 1,607 users
- [Swirl Launcher for Wear OS](https://chrome-stats.com/d/design.swirl.wearlauncher) — 68,439 users, 3.92 / 5
- [Phone Launcher Wear OS](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.tinyapps.phonelaucherapps) — 71,802 users, 2.05 / 5
- [Galaxy Glow HD Watch Face](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.denite.watchface.galaxyglow) — 653,447 users, 4.07 / 5
- [Gesture Launcher: App Control](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.fexo.gesture.fexogestureapp) — 386 users
- [Bubble Cloud Wear OS Launcher](https://chrome-stats.com/d/dyna.logix.bookmarkbubbles) — 2,529,910 users, 3.85 / 5
- [Open Gears HD Watch Face](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.denite.watchface.opengears) — 2,221 users, 4.61 / 5
- [Digi-Gears HD Watch Face](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.denite.watchface.digigears) — 44,353 users, 3.96 / 5
- [Bold Gears HD Watch Face](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.denite.watchface.boldgears) — 237,806 users, 3.84 / 5
- [Metal Glow HD Watch Face](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.denite.watchface.metalglow) — 47,283 users, 4.50 / 5

---

Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.format.gesturelauncher)