How to turn a Galaxy S5 into a Nexus 5X

A change is as good as a holiday, or so they say. Well, an old phone that looks like a new one is just as refreshing. With the new Nexus devices hitting the streets the old Galaxy S5 may not be feeling quite so sexy as it once did. But the S5 is still a really good phone, it's just in need of a little makeover. Here's how to turn your Galaxy S5 into a Nexus 5X.

1. Get the Google Now experience

First thing's first, TouchWiz has got to go. The first thing you want to do is get the Google Now Launcher. The Google Now Launcher sets your home screen up just like a Nexus, so that's where we'll start.

Say goodbye to the boring old TouchWiz Galaxy S5 look. / © ANDROIDPIT

Install the launcher below and when you hit the home button next you will asked which launcher you want to use. Select Google Now Launcher and hit Always.

Google Now Launcher

Make Google Now your default launcher. / © ANDROIDPIT

2. Put Marshmallow on your wall

So far so good. The next thing we need to do is get you some better wallpaper. Fortunately, we already have a zip file containing all the new Android Marshmallow wallpapers, including two new ones that only got released by Google a little while ago. Hit the link and install those on your Galaxy S5 too.

Download and unzip the Android Marshmallow wallpapers. / © ANDROIDPIT

Once you've unzipped the packages, they will be in your Downloads folder. Go to your home screen and long press it. Tap Wallpapers at the bottom and then My photos. Take a look at the two new folders and decide which wallpaper you want. Select it and then Set wallpaper on the next screen. We're almost there.

Select your favorite and you're on your way. / © ANDROIDPIT

3. Rearrange your home screen

The last thing we need to do is set up your home screen like a Nexus. This is really just a superficial change and if you're commonly using Samsung apps like the default messenger, gallery and contacts app then you can happily skip this step. But if you want to complete the transformation, then you need to go all Google.

Take a look a the home screen icons on Marshmallow in the image below of the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P and set up your home screen the same way (we'll forgive you if you stick with Samsung's camera app). You don't have to go the whole hog, but even halfway there will be close enough. Rearrange all those new icons and you're almost done.

A little home screen rearrangement is now in order. / © ANDROIDPIT

4. Switch to Google apps

The last thing to do is switch some of the default apps on the Galaxy S5. Install the Google Keyboard and make it your default keyboard in Settings > Language and input > Default keyboard. You can do the same with Hangouts to make it your default messenger (via Settings > Default applications > Messages). This is also where you can change your default launcher.

Switch the Samsung keyboard for the Google keyboard. / © ANDROIDPIT

And we'll leave it up to you if you want to use Hangouts for messaging. / © ANDROIDPIT

5. Let Google do the listening 

While there's nothing particularly wrong with S Voice, a Nexus 5X owner would never let anything but Google voice search listen in on their most secret search terms. So make use of that mic icon in the Google search bar to launch apps, set reminders, make calls and search the net. You can now disable the S Voice shortcut to make your Galaxy S5 a little more responsive.

“But what about the settings menu and notifications shade?” I hear you ask. Unfortunately there's only so much that a new launcher can do. The notifications shade, Quick Settings and Settings menu are all Samsung controlled so unless you want to root your S5 and flash a stock-looking ROM on it, we've hit the limit of what we can do easily.