I second using Nova launcher, prime which is the paid version

 

The only widget app I use is 1weather. It's great cuz you can have both the time and weather on one widget. If you tap the time, it launches the alarm. If you tap the weather it launches whatever weather app you have.

 

I'm not certain, but even if it doesn't you can always buy the prime version in the play store. Hit or miss, really...

 

I use Nova (paid, because I don't expect devs to work for free) and have used KWGT. But tips kinda depend on what your preferences are. For example, I do not have a single app launcher icon on any of my desktops (currently 3). But I have 3 dock pages, one of which contains a few key apps and the other two have app folders (you have to define the folders settings to use them in the dock: Nova Settings > App Drawer > Drawer groups), with the result that I rarely use the app drawer. My desktops just contain widgets (clock, which is a KWGT, agenda, train timetable, weather - though I rarely use the weather widget these days so could get rid of that). Your preferences could be completely the opposite to mine, but the great thing is being able to set it up how you want.

For the KWGT, there are a few built-in templates so you can start with those then experiment. There used to be a thread over in xda-developers somewhere where people posted their KWGTs, I'm sure a web search will turn it up. Again, what you do with it is a matter of taste and preferences: I have a clock on my "home" homescreen with time, battery, date, mobile signal type and strength (dBm) and WiFi status/speed - partly because I normally hide the status bar on my homepages so things like time, battery, signal aren't necessarily visible to me (that's a Nova feature, and I can toggle it on/off with a gesture).

But I can't tell you which settings are in free versions and which in paid because I paid for the apps a very long time ago.

 

Open your dialer app, bring up the keypad and look at the "1" key - that should have a voicemail symbol on it. If the phone has set up properly with your network pressing and holding that key will connect you to voicemail.

 

Here's my home screens using Nova.

 

Something faster. I can toggle all of my volumes with it, or mute all. Beats thumbing around with the buttons

 

No problem: Nova allows hiding of the status bar, and I've often placed widgets around elements of the image. You can also use different grid sizes in Nova, and I've made KWGTs with text at different angles to fit a particular design. This is all doable, and can be fun once you have a little practice.

 

Nova settings, look & feel, notification bar, on or off...

 

Those are icons, the icon pack is called Ruggon in the play store...
Install it, then set it as your default icons in Nova settings under look and feel....

 

Sorry to step on the OPs thread...

In order to use a different launcher and Nova, etc., does the phone need to be unlocked? Do I need to buy my own phone and pick a carrier that allows it?
I've never rooted a phone or had an unlocked phone. Unfortunately I've always let Verizon rule me.

I've loved my Pixel 2XL for the past two years but I'm tossing around the idea of the 4XL or maybe waiting a year for the 5.
I like the idea of having control over the phone and getting under the hood

Thanks