A Stubborn Feature Reportedly Nears Its End
Until now, Google had locked two elements on the Pixel Launcher’s home page: the “At a Glance” widget at the top, and the search bar at the bottom. While “At a Glance” became removable in Android 16, the search bar has remained fixed regardless of user preferences. But with Android 17, this could finally change.
Leak Suggests a New Level of Control
The update comes from leaker Mystic Leaks, who reportedly found a new setting in Android 17 QPR1. In a section called “Show search bar,” users may be able to turn the search bar off, removing it from the home screen. When disabled, the docked app icons reportedly shift down to sit closer to the phone’s bottom edge.
Added Flexibility for Your Home Screen
The ability to remove the search bar would free up more space, letting users better display their wallpapers or add more app icons without needing to use folders. Some observers suggest the search bar has become somewhat redundant, given that Google’s Gemini can already be launched quickly with a long press on the power button to start a search. In this context, the search bar may feel like a duplicate feature.
What Could Come Next?
It’s important to note that this potential change was found in the second beta version of Android 17 QPR1, so Google might make further adjustments before a public release. Google’s movement toward making formerly fixed widgets optional isn’t new—the “At a Glance” widget followed a similar path before.
At the same time, there are indications that Google might enhance the search bar's functionality, allowing it to search for content directly within apps, such as images in Google Photos. This could make the search bar more useful, giving users more reasons to keep it by choice, rather than default.
