Google may change the search widget on Android's home screen

By: Vlad Cherevko | 25.02.2024, 13:56

If you're an Android smartphone user, you're probably aware of the existence of the Google Search widget in the centre of your home screen. This search widget is included in the "Mobile Application Distribution Agreement" (also known as MADA) and its location and appearance is the same on all devices that come with the Google Play Store. But Google may soon make changes to the appearance and its functionality if a recent survey from Google is any clue.

Here's What We Know

Our colleague at Android Authority discovered an interesting feature while customising the new smartphone. He removed the Google Search widget from the home screen and shortly after, Google Opinion Rewards presented him with a survey asking him why he removed the Search widget from the home screen. Near the end of the survey, Google asked his opinion on some possible changes to the search widget.

As you can see in the screenshots, the search bar could be updated. Among the options presented in the survey, Google seems to be experimenting with a search bar widget with the following possible features:

  • More buttons to make it easier to search in different ways.
  • The ability to search for content on your device from the Google search bar as a universal search feature.
  • Showing news above the search widget bar.
  • Ability to use AI-enabled search through the search widget panel.

The ability to use AI in the search widget bar is the most interesting of these options, as it closely aligns with Google's recent AI ambitions through Google Gemini. Adding AI-assisted search capability through the Search widget, and potentially including it in the MADA commitment, would be an interesting and convenient way for many Android users around the world to find information.

So far, Google hasn't officially confirmed any of these reimagined search widgets. But the survey gives us a glimpse of some possibilities of what Google might do in the future. In some regions, the Search widget allows you to use search engines other than Google Search and so it's unclear how this will all work. We hope to find out soon if Google will change the search widget in any way.

Source: Android Authority