Manage Android apps without turning the launcher into a settings maze.

Typing an app name launches it. The apps command is for everything around that: opening the drawer, hiding noisy apps, restoring hidden apps, inspecting app details, setting default app slots, and maintaining app groups.

app drawer hidden apps default slots app groups Android settings shortcuts

Command table Group workflow Back to showcase

Mental model

Launching and managing are separate.

The fast path is still the prompt: type an app name and press enter. Use apps when you want to change how apps appear, inspect what Android exposes, or organize the drawer.

Launch: type the app name directly, or use apps -frc app for a hidden app.

Browse: run apps -ls to open the terminal-style app drawer.

Manage: use apps -hide, apps -show, apps -l, apps -st, and group commands.

Command reference

The supported subcommands.

Command	Use it for	Notes
`apps -ls`	Open the app drawer.	When the drawer UI is unavailable, this prints visible apps instead.
`apps -lsh`	List hidden apps.	Use this before restoring something with `apps -show`.
`apps -l app`	Show package, activity, permissions, and app metadata.	The app must be visible.
`apps -hide app`	Hide an app from launcher suggestions and drawer views.	It does not uninstall the app.
`apps -show app`	Restore a hidden app.	The app must be in the hidden list.
`apps -st app`	Open Android's app settings page.	Useful for permissions, battery, notifications, storage, and defaults.
`apps -ps app`	Open the app's Play Store page.	Falls back to the web Play Store if needed.
`apps -frc app`	Force launch a known app, including hidden apps.	Use this when you intentionally hid an app but still want command access.
`apps -file`	Open `apps.xml`.	Prefer commands for normal edits; use the file when debugging or backing up.
`apps -reset app`	Reset launch count for one app.	This affects most-used ordering and suggestions.
`apps -tutorial`	Open this guide.	Use this from the phone when you forget the command shapes.

Visibility

Hide clutter without uninstalling anything.

Hidden apps stay installed on Android, but Re:T-UI removes them from normal app suggestions and drawer lists. This is useful for setup tools, rarely used system apps, or apps you only launch through aliases.

$ apps -hide YouTube
              $ apps -lsh
              $ apps -show YouTube

Still need to launch a hidden app?

Use apps -frc app. That keeps your drawer clean without making the app unreachable.

App groups

Groups power the left-side drawer tabs.

App groups are command-managed collections. Once a group exists, the app drawer can show it as a focused tab so repeated workflows are easier to scan.

Create

apps -mkgp work creates an empty group named work.

Add

apps -addtogp work Slack adds a visible app to that group.

Inspect

apps -lsgp lists groups. apps -lsgp work lists apps inside one group.

Group command	Effect
`apps -mkgp group`	Create a group. Group names should not contain spaces.
`apps -rmgp group`	Remove a group. It does not uninstall or hide the apps.
`apps -addtogp group app`	Add a visible app to the group.
`apps -rmfromgp group app`	Remove an app from that group.
`apps -lsgp`	List all groups.
`apps -lsgp group`	List apps in one group.
`apps -gp_bg_color group #RRGGBB`	Set the drawer tab background color for a group.
`apps -gp_fore_color group #RRGGBB`	Set the drawer tab text color for a group.

$ apps -mkgp work
              $ apps -addtogp work Slack
              $ apps -addtogp work Calendar
              $ apps -gp_bg_color work #263238
              $ apps -gp_fore_color work #c8e6c9
              $ apps -lsgp work

Default app slots

Keep quick-launch slots explicit.

Default app slots are stored in apps.xml. Use them when your setup depends on positional defaults rather than fuzzy app-name search.

$ apps -default_app 1 Phone
              $ apps -default_app 2 most_used
              $ apps -default_app 3 null

Named app: stores that app in the slot.

most_used: lets usage count drive the slot.

null: clears the slot.

Troubleshooting

Fast checks when app behavior looks wrong.

An app disappeared

Run apps -lsh. If it is hidden, restore it with apps -show app.

The drawer feels noisy

Hide low-value entries with apps -hide app, then create focused groups for repeated workflows.

Android settings are needed

Run apps -st app instead of digging through the system settings app.

Suggestions feel stale

Run refresh. It reloads launcher-managed data including apps.

A group tab is empty

Run apps -lsgp group. Hidden or uninstalled apps may no longer appear in the drawer.

You need the raw file

Run apps -file, but prefer command edits unless you are debugging config state.