What you need to know
- Google is replacing the Pixel Launcher’s native search with a full-screen Google Search interface powered by the Google app.
- The new search UI removes quick access to contacts and device settings, making the experience feel like a downgrade.
- Google says the change is meant to surface AI Mode faster as part of the November 2025 Pixel Feature Drop.
In a significant shift for its Pixel devices, Google is revamping the search functionality on the home screen, a change that has stirred both curiosity and concern among users. For years, the Pixel Launcher has provided a convenient search tool, allowing users to navigate through contacts, apps, device settings, and web results with ease. However, this familiar feature is being replaced by what Google describes as an “upgraded home screen search bar,” which essentially reverts to the older Google Search UI powered by the Google app.
Upon tapping the search bar, users will now encounter a full-screen interface that mirrors the Google app’s search layout. This transition aligns the Pixel experience more closely with that of other Android smartphones, where tapping the Google Search bar leads to a similar full-screen search experience.
Pixel’s home screen search now opens the Google app instead
While users will still have access to app shortcuts, the ability to search for contacts or quickly toggle device settings like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth has been removed from this interface. This alteration has led many to perceive the new experience as a downgrade, raising questions about its overall value.
According to Google, this revamped search experience is part of the November 2025 Feature Drop, designed to facilitate quicker access to AI Mode. The company asserts that this change allows users to “quickly start and resume AI Mode journeys,” enhancing their ability to delve deeper into web searches. Additionally, users can expect to see more suggested apps displayed prominently at the top of the screen, streamlining their exploration on the device.
Despite these claims of enhancement, the removal of fundamental features such as searching through phone settings and contacts leaves some users skeptical about the true nature of this upgrade. As Google continues to integrate AI features into its updates, the anticipation surrounding these changes remains palpable, even as the practicality of such modifications is called into question.
