Feat req: Support for Cloned / Dual Apps (Multiple App Instances)

[spectas]

Checklist

• I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• I made sure that there are no existing discussions - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• I have read the FAQs inside the app (Menu -> About -> FAQs) and my problem isn't listed.
• I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the request will be dismissed otherwise.
• This issue contains only one feature request.
• I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.

Feature description

Hi, I would like Fossify Launcher (which I like a lot, thanks!) to support cloned / dual app instances (also known as “app clones”, “parallel apps”, or “dual apps”). On MIUI / HyperOS, HarmonyOS, and several custom ROMs, users can create a second copy of selected apps. These cloned apps run under a different userId and appear as separate launchable activities in other launchers.

Requested behavior:

• detect cloned/dual app instances
• show them as separate entries in the app drawer
• allow adding them to the home screen
• optionally distinguish them with a small badge, special color or allow renaming the shortcut

Why do you want this feature?

Currently, Fossify Launcher displays only the original app and does not list the cloned instance. As a result:

• cloned apps are invisible in the app drawer
• they cannot be opened or pinned from the launcher
• users with multiple accounts (e.g., messaging, social, work apps) cannot access their second instance through the launcher

For many Android users, dual apps might be an interesting feature. Adding support would remove this limitation and make the launcher compatible with a wide variety of OEM ROMs and AOSP-based systems.

Additional information

I am attaching some screenshots showing how cloned app icons appear in other launchers.

Thanks for considering the feature — Fossify Launcher is excellent and this addition would make it even more complete.

[svenburkard]

I'm facing the same issue as I heavily rely on Androids profile feature with Shelter, which made this a blocker for me to move to the Fossify Launcher.

As I'm also a grateful user of the other Fossify apps, I started looking into to add profile support, to be able to use the Fossify Launcher.
I got it now working to be able to see and start the apps of my different profiles on a home-screen and in the app-list-screen as well. It shows for my work profile apps a badge in the right corner like I was used to it from my previous launcher as well.

Looks like the screenshots with Fossify Launcher now.

I did not used Fossify Launcher before so my home-screen starts from scratch anyway, but I want to verify the experience for an existing user, to make sure in best case that he can keep his app placements when doing an upgrade without extra work.
Once I'm done with that I will send a PR.

[svenburkard]

Hi @spectas, just to let you know the PR is up for review (#357), in case you want to test it on your device as well.

[spectas]

Hi @svenburkard , I'm very glad to hear and looking forward to its adoption. Unfortunately I can't test it currently. Thanks and best regards