TL;DR
- A recent Pixel update changed the home screen search bar behavior, but you can revert it with a workaround.
- The change forces the search bar to open the standard Google Search UI rather than the Pixel Launcher’s unified search.
- By using ADB to toggle a specific launcher flag, you can force the device to return to the old unified search experience.
Google constantly experiments with new ways to improve its products, but like all experiments, results vary. In a recent Pixel update, Google modified the home screen search bar to launch the standard Google Search UI rather than the Pixel Launcher’s unified search experience. While the standard UI makes it easier to access AI Mode, it lacks some features and feels less integrated. Fortunately, users who want to restore the old search experience can do so with a simple workaround. Here’s what you need to do.
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