How to get Android 5.0 Lollipop apps, UI and features on your phone without root

Note: these are obviously not the official Android 5.0 Lollipop apps, so they might be a bit buggy and crash on you. Using any of these apps must be done at your own risk. Also, make sure that you are connected to a good Wi-Fi network because some of the files are rather large and could use up quite a bit of your mobile data.

• Android 5.0 Lollipop review
• Android 5.0 Lollipop tips

Android 5.0 Lollipop wallpapers

Android 5.0 Lollipop’s Material Design is much more mature and stylistically uniform throughout the entire system than KitKat ever was, no stone has been left unturned by Google’s developers when implementing the design changes. The wallpapers match this new look perfectly, and you can already download them. Install Android 5.0 Lollipop wallpapers

Android 5.0 Lollipop Messenger

Google also introduced a new SMS and MMS app with Material Design. Messenger is a lot cleaner looking and user friendly than Hangouts, however it doesn’t combine your Hangouts messages. Google has basically gone back to the old system of two separate apps: one for text messages and one for messages using mobile data. Install Lollipop Messenger. 

Android 5.0 Lollipop Keyboard

There was an Android L keyboard available since the Google I/O but this required root. Now anyone can install the APK right from the XDA developer website. First we would recommend uninstalling any previous Google Keyboard app, then head to XDA and install the APK. 

Once the Keyboard is installed, it will guide you on how to properly set it up, from switching it on in your settings, to making it your primary keyboard, to adding more languages. Make sure you go into the Lollipop Keyboard settings and choose either Material Dark or Material Light design. Install Lollipop Keyboard.

The latest version of the Google Play Store

The Google Play Store had already received a Material Design update a while back, but the most recent update spreads the new user interface changes throughout the entire app, including a flatter icon, new animations and colors. Install the Google Play Store version 5.2.

Android 5.0 Lollipop sounds

In addition to having an Android 5.0 look and feel, what about sounds? You can make your phone sound like it’s got Lollipop running by simply installing the APK. Install Android 5.0 Lollipop sounds.

Nova Launcher

Though the APKS above will bring you individual components of Android Lollipop, there’s not much to speak of the functionality level. To get this, you could also just install the Nova launcher which will bring a bunch of new features that are very similar to Android 5.0.

For example, you will get Lollipop Circle Folder Animations, scroll indicator, icon themes for calculator, clock, contacts, downloads, email, dialer, settings and SMS apps and a preview of the scroll effects in the settings.

You will need to install some of the individual apps above to make the look complete though, like the wallpaper APK. Try out various combinations to see what you like the best.

Have you managed to get the Android 5.0 Lollipop on your Android phone?