How third-party apps changed Android: 8 features created outside Google
Popular Android features introduced by independent developers (collage: RBC-Ukraine)
Over the years, Android has evolved from a simple set of functions into a powerful operating system. Many familiar features first appeared not in Google, but in independent apps. Developers’ ideas inspired Android engineers, and some of them eventually became official functionality.
Android Authority shared 8 features that changed how Android works and became familiar to millions of users.
Always-On Display
The Always-On Display (AOD) feature has long been part of the Android smartphone experience. So when Apple decided to add it to the iPhone years later, many saw it as a direct copy of Android.
However, this wasn’t always the case. When LCD screens dominated the market, AOD wasn’t supported at the system level, and users had to rely on third-party apps. One popular solution was AcDisplay, which simulated AOD with a dark background and minimalist notifications.
The feature consumed a noticeable amount of battery, but at the time, this was considered an acceptable trade-off for convenience. Later, LG, Samsung, and other brands added hardware support for AOD on AMOLED panels, making the feature mainstream.
File Managers
Today, Android is often compared to iOS for offering greater access to the file system, but for almost the first decade, Android also lacked a built-in file manager.
Users relied on third-party apps like ES File Explorer or brand-specific tools. Only in 2017 did Google introduce Files Go, a lightweight explorer that later became the basis for the Google Files app. This platform also laid the foundation for Nearby Share and later Quick Share, which eventually gained AirDrop-like support.
System Theme Customization
Customizing the device’s appearance has always been a key Android feature. The real breakthrough came with dynamic theming in Android 12 under the Material You concept.
The Monet system automatically detects key wallpaper colors and applies them to interface elements, such as buttons, sliders, and menus. Today, this is a standard, but such capabilities used to exist only in custom ROMs.
Enthusiast communities used Substratum and RRO Layers, developed by Sony, to recolor both system and third-party apps. These experiments laid the groundwork for Android’s modern approach to personalization.
Gesture Navigation
Gestures have long been a familiar way to control Android smartphones, and many users find them more convenient than traditional buttons. Even before Google’s official implementation, brands like Xiaomi and Samsung actively introduced gestures.
Several third-party solutions existed as well. Swipe Navigation allowed users to completely replace buttons with swipes, while All-in-one Gestures supported dozens of gestures from different screen edges and corners.
Google later implemented its own gesture system and made it mandatory for manufacturers, gradually replacing third-party apps. However, these apps laid the foundation for what is used today.
Blue Light Filters
Today, eye health is a priority for smartphone manufacturers, but ten years ago, this received much less attention. Companies focused primarily on sales volumes.
Third-party apps partially addressed the issue by reducing certain screen color shades, mainly blue light. Popular options included Bluelight Filter and Twilight, allowing users to choose filters and schedule their operation.
Later, Google officially introduced Night Light on the first-generation Pixel, refining it in newer Android versions. Today, filters can adjust intensity automatically based on ambient light, though apps like Twilight remain popular among users with individual color sensitivity.
Advanced Screenshot Tools
Android now supports long screenshots and built-in editing tools, making working with screen captures convenient and fast. Before these tools existed, users relied on third-party apps.
Stitch & Share allowed combining multiple screenshots into one long image and manually arranging them. Similarly, screen recording didn’t appear natively at first. AZ Screen Recorder offered 60 fps recording and a built-in clip editor.
Customizable Home Screens
One of Android’s key features is wide personalization options. Home screen customization remains highly demanded by users.
Although standard manufacturer launchers gradually expanded functionality, they still lagged behind third-party solutions. Launchers like Nova Launcher and Action Launcher played a major role, popularizing customizable icon grids, app hiding, icon pack support, gestures for quick notifications, and unread message indicators.
Quick Share
Quick Share gained attention after Google significantly expanded its capabilities, independent of Apple. Initially launched in 2020 as Nearby Share, it was seen as an AirDrop alternative. Today, Quick Share allows file transfers between Android, Windows, and recently iOS and macOS devices.
Before Quick Share, users relied on third-party apps for Wi-Fi Direct transfers such as SuperBeam, Xender, and SHAREit, which offered faster speeds than Bluetooth. Their popularity later declined due to the convenience of messaging apps, lack of updates, ads, and security vulnerabilities.
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