TL;DR
- While Google’s search widget has let users customize one of its shortcuts, the same option has not existed for the Pixel Launcher’s search bar.
- With Android 17 Beta 1, we finally see the Pixel Launcher pick up that same custom option .
- Right now, though, implementation seems a bit glitchy, with not all options working correctly
No one’s ever going to accuse Google of not giving Android phones enough places to conduct searches. You can search with Chrome, search in the Google app, search from your app tray, ask Gemini to do a search… and we could keep going. On your home screen itself, we’ve got two major players in the search game: You can use the Pixel Launcher’s search bar down at the bottom of your screen, or you can position a Google widget search bar anywhere you like. And now with today’s Android 17 Beta 1 release, those two are becoming more similar than ever.
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