Nes Hub 2nd Gen - no app launcher

[Bevrid]

Information on the web suggests that there should be an app launcher on my hub, provided the Cast firmware is above 1.56, however, I only get the normal controls and no app launcher when I swipe from the bottom of the screen.

Cast firmware is 1.56.276689.

Any idea why the app launcher is not there?

[MarkHNZ]

Ditto. Posted same question a month ago,  but still no response. Anybody out there? 

[Mwalker1234]

Same here. No idea why I'm not getting the app launcher like I'm "supposed to".

[DeanN]

I bought 2 Nest Hubs (2nd generation) the same time on Black Friday 2021 , one for me and one for my wife. I did setup the same, although different accounts, but they have the same firmware. Mine has app launcher, but hers has not. It's weird.

[Bevrid]

That's interesting, maybe the 2 accounts have different permissions.  I've checked the permissions on my account and can't see anything that would be a problem, but if you've got 2 to compare, you might be able to spot something?

[DeanN]

I compared one by one settings between them, both in Nest Hubs themselves and in Google Home settings (in the cell phones). No differences at all.  I bought them at the same Best Buy, one is chalk and one is pink, but they should be probably came from the same factory. So that's weird.

[Bevrid]

Thanks for the info.  I guess we're back to square one and Google doesn't seem to be very proactive in helping us sort this one out.

[DavidAz]

TBH, I don't see this app launcher mentioned anywhere on the official website.

Apparently this app Launcher is not official so I'm not counting on any help from Google representatives. 

[DeanN]

Hmm...I think the Nest Hub 2nd gen has more potential apps than the current, but GG is not launching yet, such as this app launcher, or room temperature display...GG seems to control the device rather than let us control it. 

[MarkHNZ]

Google Home Support have now advised me that "the apps won't really show when you swipe up since that feature is currently not available outside the US. This is a great feature though and I will submit a feedback about this and maybe someday, this will become available to every country."

To which I replied "The Hub is a fantastic piece of hardware, but the interface & apps are very disappointing! 

All Hub users would like this, & more, functionality. As you will see from Community threads, some users have had it, & then the feature disappeared!

It is strange that it has taken nearly 6 months for this (now clear) response, as there are numerous threads noting the issue. I just added my experience to them. Odd also, that Community responders had not been made aware of this situation by Google, so they could have responded MUCH earlier. 

Thanks for your response. Much appreciated. Please let Jake (Community host) know too." And response ". I will definitely have a seat with the management about this and have a discussion. I already relay this to Jake and his team."

So presumably those of you who had the functionality, had it overwritten by a non-US update.

If you want this functionality NOW, suggest you email "googlehome-support" at "google.com" quoting Case ID [6-4800000032450] and that the 'swipe up to show apps' feature be made available world-wide.

Thanks Jake *(& Team) - Google should give you more support !

[Bevrid]

Thanks very much for the info and your persistence with Google Home Support!

[Jake]

Hey all,

Sorry for the late reply. I wanted to follow up and see if you are still in need of any help? Please let me know if you are still having any trouble from here, as I would be happy to take a closer look and assist you further. 

Best regards,
Jake

[Bevrid]

Hi Jake,

The app launcher still doesn't seem to be available on my hub in the UK. Any idea when it will be available outside the US?

[MarkHNZ]

Hi Jake. Any update on when this feature will be available in general worldwide release? 

[NickFenst]

Hi Jake,

The app launcher still doesn't seem to be available on my hub in Denmark. Any idea when it will be available outside the US?

[And]

Hi Jake,

The app launcher still doesn't seem to be available on my hub in Denmark. Any idea when it will be available outside the US?

[MyNameDsntmttr]

Hi Jake,

I recently purchased the 2nd gen hub and after the tutorial I immediately looked for the launcher, which by mere logic feels should be there. It turns out it isn't. Anywhere. 

Thankfully you said OVER A FULL YEAR AGO that you "would be happy to take a closer look and assist you further," if anyone was "still having any trouble." It appears that willingness to help disappeared within 5 minutes, as you never even replied to that message.

In case you did not resign immediately after posting this:
This is still a concern.

[Idol]

Interesting! Didn't know this. Ty,! Now I'd like to see if we can "ALL" have this feature,? I mean the Google Assistant doesn't always have the correct response/ (answer).😅 Jk

It'd be nice to have our own choice on launcher....   🙂

[Keltic88]

There have been several people in CONUS that have been having the same problem.  In two of the threads I was part of some answered "Just some glitch, now it's working" and Google support marked it solved and locked the thread.  Hope this doesn't happen here.

[ajokay]

In the Netherlands this function is also not there. (Nest hub 2nd gen)

Greets, AJ

[Tullinge]

Am in Sweden, 2nd gen, no such thing. Would be a brilliant feature.

[howardnicholson]

Just bought the new Best Hub Max and very disappointed to see that the app launch feature is not available in Australia.  Why on Earth would Google make it only available on units sold in US, this make no sense at all and is very poor customer service, not sure if I would have bought it if I had known this.  As the old saying goes "caveat emptor".

[Saminator]

Same here. Just purchased nest hub max for the entire reason that it's supposed to have an app drawer. Regretting this decision and hope I can get a refund. It's just a bigger and way more expensive version of the small one with zero additional features but heaps more expensive

[Cargamer_1293YT]

I keep wondering the same thing.

[RM85]

I bought a Nest Hub 2nd Gen today and was disappointed to find out after searching high and low that the app launcher feature is not available here in Australia. Please Google, release it to the rest of world.

And what about the rollout of Fuchsia OS to Nest Hub 2nd Gen and other Google smart home devices? Got an ETA or is that not coming too?

[LouisL]

In France this function is also not there. (Nest hub 2nd gen) 😭

[DrW1]

No app launcher still in UK (Home Hub Max).

Still not pinning sticky notes to the ambient screen either, but that's another bug that's not being looked at with any urgency.

[Startfast]

I just did a factory reset on my google nest home max, and now I don’t have app launcher. I am in the US, but no launcher.

[DAWID]

Would love to have this great looking app launcher on my Nest Hubs Gen 2.

[DeanN]

It looks like Google doesn't listen to our community. Over a year, no launcher to Nes Hub 2nd generation (luckily I have in one Nest Hub and no for another, don't know why). There are other one feature which Google does not reveal in its Nes Hb: room temperature (it shows in Sleep sensing)

[HUNT112]

I don't have it too, I'm in the UK. Why is that Google?

[Donmackó]

I bought my 2nd generation Nest Hub assistant today in Hungary. The language choice was initially set to "English (United States)" which allowed me to choose my preferred applications. Then, I switched to "English (United Kingdom)" language, and the application selector disappeared. Later, I switched back to "English (United States)" language and the application selector reappeared.

[DeanN]

Interesting!  Nobody knows how to reveal the app launcher, and Google hasn't told us too. I'm pretty sure it's in the software part, not in the hardware.

[MarkHNZ]

EXCELLENT. THANKS Donmacó! 

I also tried this & it WORKS! A shame we have to use US English, but never mind. SOLVED! 

[Saminator]

How do you change language to US English or does it need a full reset? 

[DeanN]

You don't need to reset the Hub. Just do to Google Home in your phone and set language to English (U.S.)

[LouisL]

Hi! I tried and it works!

To change the language, go in Google Home app and click on your profile icon to go in the configuration. Then, go in Google Assistant section and select manage parameters of the assistant. There is a menu to choose the language.

You can restart the devide.

Thank you for the tips!

[DeanN]

Thanks to Donmackó, the problem is solved, at least temporarily.

SOLUTION: From Google Home of the phone, tap on your account icon (at the top right) , then Assistant settings, then Languages, then choose English (United States)

Unfortunately the other languages don't work, even English (Canada) or English (UK)

[DeanN]

It takes time for the App launcher appears. It doesn't show tight away.

[Sage01]

How long? And do I need to reset following changing the language?