Own a Google Pixel phone? Android 17 might finally let you remove the home screen search bar

Date:
Fri, 08 May 2026 09:43:10 +0000

Description:
Google might soon let you more freely customize your Pixel's home screen, and there's also a bug-fixing update being rolled out.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter An Android 17 beta contains clues that you might soon be able to remove the search bar on Pixel home screens This could perhaps be part of the finished version of Android 17, but it's not yet available even in beta The May Pixel update is also now rolling out, complete with various bug fixes We already know lots of what Android 17 is likely to offer , but one other major change has just leaked: it seems Google might finally let you hide the home screen search bar on Pixel phones
.

This search bar is a convenient way to do a web search on Google without having to open the browser first, but it also takes up quite a lot of screen space, so if you dont do many searches, prefer a different search engine, or simply like opening up the browser, then you would understandably want this feature gone. Its actually surprising that its taken so long for Google to enable a toggle for the search bar, as it seems like it should be optional. But based on some digging that Android Authority has done in Android 17 beta code, a toggle could be coming soon, as code strings mention things like customize search bar, search bar settings, and show search bar at the bottom of your home screen. Latest Videos From You may like Android 17 beta 1 is here, with some big changes and small surprises 5 features to get excited about in Android 17 The 6 best Google Pixel 10 upgrades coming in the next Pixel Drop update

These references suggest that its likely youll be able to choose whether or not to show the search bar in Android 17, though the site wasnt able to
enable this feature in the current beta. Still, the fact that theres code pointing to this suggests it might be ready in time for Android 17s finished version, and we may even get a look at this during the next Android Show on May 12 . The Google Pixel 10 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) Beating
the bugs But while that feature might not launch for a while, Google is now rolling out a smaller update for Pixel phones. This is Mays Pixel update, and its coming to all models from the Google Pixel 7a and Pixel Tablet onwards.

There arent any new features here, but there are various bug fixes, including fixes for slow wireless charging speeds when the battery level is between 75% and 80%, and an issue where the camera app would freeze while recording video and adjusting the zoom level.

There are also fixes for issues that caused a flickering white dot to appear at the top of the screen, the screen to appear fuzzy or frozen, and the keyboard to appear frozen or incorrectly positioned in certain apps. Get
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These sound like quite annoying problems that are definitely worth resolving. The update has started rolling out to select Pixel phones already, but Google notes that it will roll out over the next few weeks in phases, depending on your carrier and device. So you might not have it just yet. Today's best Google Pixel phone deals Contract Deals Sim Free Google Pixel 10 24 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 100GB data 99 upfront 24.99 /mth View at Carphone Warehouse See all prices Google Pixel 10a 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 1GB data 30 upfront 36.50 /mth View at Vodafone Ltd See all prices gift Google Pixel 10 Pro 24 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts
200GB data 9 upfront 28.99 /mth View at Mobiles.co.uk See all prices Google Pixel 10 Pro XL 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 1GB data 50 upfront 35 /mth View at Vodafone Ltd See all prices We check over 250 million
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/google-pixel-phones/own-a-google-pixel-phone- android-17-might-finally-let-you-remove-the-home-screen-search-bar


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