How to Install Ratio Launcher on Your Android Phone
As Blloc is trying to make Ratio a great experience and optimizing for each and every specific model, Blloc isn’t available on the Play Store, yet. You can get a custom version for your smartphone by going to the Blloc website, scroll down, and select your phone model. As of now, only a few Oneplus and Pixel phones have the option, but there are also Samsung and Xiaomi phones next in the line. In case, your phone model is not available, you can try out selecting any model that’s closest in dimensions to your phone. Enter your email address and click on request access. Read: Stop Phubbing: Here Are Best Minimal Launchers for Android
As this is a first come first serve process, a few weeks of wait is expected. You will get a small survey in this time period. As the Ratio is still in the beta incubation stage, this survey will be helpful to understand what people are looking for.
Once the survey is completed, you will receive an invitation code to the Ratio Shortly. There are two versions, pro, and Light to the Blloc. Pro Version has more features like monochrome mode, app by app basis screen rotation, etc, and many more to come. But it cots $29 and you need to Windows or Mac Laptop/Desktop to set up the app, but you can install Ratio Light for free just your phone.
1. Installing Ratio Light
Installing Ratio Light is just as easy as installing a launcher on your phone. Just download the Ratio Light APK file from the email. Click on the download notification and install the Blloc Services App.
Once the app is installed, open the app and you can find the option Blloc Lines, install that app too by pressing the install button beside it. Unlike other launchers, Ratio will not ask you to set itself as default. You need to open Settings > Apps > three-dot menu > default apps > Home and select the option Ratio.
Now you will get a popup asking you to enter the verification code. Just the paste the verification code you got in the email and click on Verify. That’s it, you are right into Ratio Homescreen, you can customize them to your heart’s content.
Installing Ratio Pro
Open Windows/ Mac and download the respective desktop app from the email. Install the app and open it.
Now on your phone, go to settings > about phone and press build number 7 times to get the developer options. Go back to the settings page & Search fro USB Debugging and turn it on. Connect your phone with the USB to your desktop/Laptop. A popup should show up asking “Allow USB Debugging”.
Click on Allow and it will prompt you to enter the verification code, paste the verification code you got in the email, and click ok. It will start downloading the Ratio Launcher on to your phone.
Just accept the permissions and it will start installing the launcher directly from the PC. The installation process may take 2-3 minutes.
After the installation is completed, you need to go to settings > Apps > three-dot-menu > Default apps > Home screen and select Ratio. That’s it, you are right into Ratio Homescreen, you can customize them to your heart’s content.
Wrapping up
Though the Ratio is not yet available for every device, even an Oneplus 7 Pro port working fine for my Samsung Note 8. That said, it might not be the case every time. But as even the pro version is free right now as a beta testing program, it is definitely worth trying. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Read: Best Unique Android Launchers for 2020
