How to Create Pixel Launcher Style App Open Animations in React Native

Most React Native apps open screens instantly.

Google’s Pixel Launcher does something much more interesting: the new screen expands from the icon that was tapped.

In this tutorial, we’ll recreate that behavior using react-native-pixel-launch.

Installation
npm install react-native-pixel-launch
Step 1: Create a Trigger Element
const btnRef = useRef(null);

We need a reference so we can measure the position of the pressed element.

Step 2: Measure the Element
btnRef.current?.measure(
(_x, _y, width, height, pageX, pageY) => {
setOrigin({
x: pageX,
y: pageY,
width,
height,
});

setVisible(true);

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}
);

This gives us the exact coordinates needed for the animation origin.

Step 3: Render PixelLaunchContainer
visible={visible}
origin={origin}
onClose={() => setVisible(false)}

That’s it.

The screen now expands from the tapped element instead of appearing instantly.

Why This Feels Better

Origin-based motion helps users understand:

Where they came from
What triggered the action
How to return

Animations become part of navigation instead of visual decoration.

Additional Components Included

The package also includes:

PixelDialog

Launch dialogs from any element.

AnimatedBottomSheet

Smooth sheet animations with staggered content.

FabMenu

Expandable floating action menus.

PixelMenuOverlay

A searchable launcher-style grid.

DomeFooter

A Pixel-inspired footer with a FAB cutout.

Performance

The library uses native-driven animations where possible and is designed to remain smooth on modern Android and iOS devices.

Final Thoughts

Small animation details dramatically improve perceived quality.

If you’re building a React Native app and want Pixel-style motion without implementing everything yourself, react-native-pixel-launch can get you there quickly.

Source Code: react-native-pixel-launch GitHub repository
Package: react-native-pixel-launch on npm