Google Pixel phones will probably let you ditch the search bar in Android 17 QPR1 [Video]
Source: 9to5Google
Search Bar Toggle Leak
A new leak showcases an incoming ability for Google Pixel phones to turn off the built‑in search bar that has been a part of the Pixel Launcher for years.
The Pixel Launcher offers a clean and refined experience for your Android homescreen, but two long‑standing complaints have persisted. For years, Google baked two pieces of the homescreen into the launcher with no user choice – the “At a Glance” widget and the search bar.
Google added the ability to remove the At a Glance widget with Android 16 (source), and now the search bar appears to be next in line.
Mystic Leaks shared a screen recording from what looks like a leaked build of Android 17 QPR1’s stable release (link). This build shows a new toggle that lets users easily turn off the search bar on the Pixel Launcher.
The option appears in Pixel Launcher settings > Search bar settings > Show search bar. Toggling it off removes the bottom search bar and pushes your docked apps closer to the bottom of the screen.
It’s a welcome change, as not everyone wants a search bar at the bottom of their display.
Google just released the second beta for Android 17 QPR1 earlier this week (details), with the final release expected later this year. In the meantime, the stable release is likely right around the corner (schedule).