"First time in years I didn't uninstall a WP launcher after 10 minutes": METROV could be a hit if you loved the look of Windows Phone 8.1

The r/WindowsCentral subreddit continues to grow, and I'm having a great time conversing with readers and Windows fans.

One discussion thread that caught my eye recently comes from u/fisforfaheem, who has found success turning their Android phone back into a Windows Phone using a launcher I'd not yet heard of.

It's called METROV, and it was released almost exactly a year ago on April 30, 2025. It's still being updated (the most recent version 1.9.5 was pushed out less than a week ago), and it has so far racked up more than 10,000 downloads with an overall rating of 4.4/5 at Google Play.

As u/fisforfaheem states, METROV is "the closest I've felt to using a Lumia again." They explain that although they've tried top alternatives like Launcher 10 and Square Home in the past, the apps didn't make it past the "Android pretending to be a Windows Phone" feel.

That's some high praise, and u/fisforfaheem calls out tiles that feel natural, a clean and minimal UI, as well as animations and a layout that delivers "that old Metro vibe" so many of us don't want to ever let go of.

Is METROV perfect? Not according to the OP. They state that there are "a few bugs" and that "live tiles can glitch sometimes."

Regardless of bugs, METROV certainly delivers the Lumia with a Windows Phone 8.1 feel, with a minimalist, dynamic tile-based layout.

The app's Google Play page highlights deep customization options for tile sizes and colors, and it states that there are "no ads, no tracking, no clutter."

The Windows Central community chimes in on METROV

It doesn't seem like METROV is positioned to usurp the immensely popular Square Home and Launcher 10, but other subreddit members have chimed in with their own opinions of the upstart launcher.

One user points out that they've been using Square Home for 10 years. Although they've also tested METROV, they went back to Square because it supports foldables.

Another user states that they've been using METROV ever since they got a Samsung S26 Ultra.

Comment from r/windowscentral

And another user says that they're going to have to "pick up an Android phone to try it out again." I'm in the same boat, currently seeing what Apple has been up to with its iPhones after years of Android use.

On the app's Google Home page, five-star ratings call out the "great animations" and a "faithful" approach to Windows Phone 8.1.

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It's not all rosy. As one post points out, METROV "obviously still needs a lot of work." It's also claimed that METROV's developer "hates criticism," though I have no proof of that.

Some users call out METROV's in-app purchases, which appear to range from about $2 up to $7. As the OP points out, they're using METROV for free and still enjoying the experience.

Windows Central's take

I've yet to test METROV myself, but I'm pushing it on my coworkers with Android phones to test it out.

In the meantime, I'm hoping more of our readers can chime in with any experience they have with METROV. Although Launcher 10 and Square Home are far more popular, it's great to see alternatives entering the market.

Are you already using METROV to recreate the Windows Phone 8.1 feel on your modern Android? If not, is it something you'd consider? Which launcher, if any, are you using instead? Let me know in the comments section below!

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