Google is implementing a major alteration to the Pixel Launcher’s home screen search capability by substituting it with the comprehensive Google app search experience. This modification is a component of the November 2025 Pixel Feature Drop and seeks to weave AI abilities more fluidly into the user experience.
In the past, the Pixel Launcher provided a built-in search tool on the home screen, enabling users to swiftly search through their phone’s content, encompassing contacts, apps, device settings, and web results. This feature was a foundation of the Pixel Launcher, delivering a practical and effective method to access various phone functions without dominating the entire screen.
Nonetheless, with the latest update, the search bar on the Pixel’s home screen will now launch the full-screen Google Search interface driven by the Google app. This shift indicates that users will no longer have immediate access to contacts and device settings straight from the home screen search, which some might view as a regression in functionality.
Google’s reasoning for this modification is to facilitate quicker access to AI Mode, enabling users to promptly initiate and continue AI-driven journeys online. The revamped search experience also aspires to present more suggested apps in the top row, improving exploration capabilities on the device.
Although this update coincides with Google’s wider initiative to fuse AI features throughout its products, it has ignited some discussion among users regarding the disappearance of specific convenient features. Regardless of the mixed feedback, the change illustrates Google’s ongoing dedication to advancing its products to incorporate sophisticated AI functionalities.
