Dec 18, 2025
3 min read
Google uses Pixel Launcher's home screen search and the search experience with the Google app.
Searching on the Pixel's home screen has become awkward for everyday use
Google is replacing Pixel Launcher's home search with a full Google app search.
What you need to know
- Google replaces 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 that this change is intended to make AI mode faster as part of the November 2025 Pixel Feature Release.
After keeping it that way for years, Google is changing the way the search bar on your Google Pixel's home screen works, and as you might have guessed, it has to do with AI.
For years, Pixel Launcher has offered a quick search tool on the home screen that lets you search your phone's contents, such as contacts, apps, device settings, and web results.
The app looks like a real part of Pixel Launcher.It doesn't take up the entire screen but shows your wallpaper in a pop-up view with a swipe down icon at the top to quickly close the browser screen.
However, as seen by 9to5Google, Google is starting to replace this with what it calls an "enhanced local search bar."This new search bar is actually the old Google Search UI powered by the Google app.
Now, when you tap the search bar on your Pixel home screen, you're greeted with a new search interface that takes up the full screen and resembles Google's search UI.It's basically the same experience you get on other Android smartphones when you tap the Google search bar on the home screen.
Searching on the Pixel home screen opens the Google app instead
You still have access to app shortcuts, but you can no longer search for contacts or quickly access device settings like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth from this screen.Because of this, it feels like a pared down experience.
Google says this new search experience is part of the November 2025 Feature Note that was recently released for Pixel devices.The reason behind this change, as most people assume, is the rapid availability of AI.
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Google says the new search makes it easier to jump into AI mode.According to the company, "It lets you quickly start and resume AI mode tours, so you can dig deeper into the web. You'll also see more recommended apps in the top row, making it seamless to continue exploring on your device."
We're not sure it qualifies as an upgraded experience, especially when you remove basic features like finding your phone's settings and contacts.But since Google is pushing AI features with almost every update, I'm not saying we haven't seen it.
Sanju is a technology writer who loves exploring smartphones, tablets and wearables.It started its journey with Nokia Lumia and later ventured into Android and iPhone.He has been writing about technology on Pocketnow, Android Police, Pocket-Lint and MakeUseOf since 2018.When he is not checking gadgets, he is drinking tea, watching football or playing cricket.
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