Andy Walker / Android Authority
Google’s Pixel Launcher is better than I give it credit for, but it isn’t without its shortcomings. As a Pixel 8 user, I encounter the home screen’s quirks every day, but even so, its limitations can be leveraged to build a highly functional, productivity-first home screen environment. That said, it rather forces the user to adopt this ideology. It’s no wonder then that plenty of users leap for other Android launchers offering fresher features and extensive customization options.
Do you use the Pixel Launcher’s search bar? 24 votes Yes, I use all of its available features regularly. 25 % Yes, but only if I need quick access to Lens or AI Mode. 13 % Yes, but only to search for apps. 4 % No, it’s just wasting space on my home screen. 46 % No, I don’t as I don’t use Pixel Launcher. 13 % I use it for another reason (elaborate in the comments). 0 %
Fortunately, it appears that Google is addressing this issue. According to evidence we uncovered in Android Canary, the Pixel Launcher will soon give users the option to hide its At a Glance widget completely from the home screen. The widget, positioned right at the top of the screen, is helpful in certain instances. It serves context-relevant information, including weather forecasts, flight details, and traffic information via Maps for commuters. Not everyone values this information, though, and since At a Glance is permanent, it robs these users of real estate on their home screens.
Google giving users the option to hide this widget entirely is terrific news. It’s an option I’ve always wanted to see Google offer, and many readers share this sentiment as well. However, the road to Pixel Launcher becoming a launcher that supports rather than restricts users is long and winding. There’s another permanent UI element on that Google should give us control of next, and that is the search bar.
Content discovery at the expense of search
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
The search bar carves itself a substantial portion of Pixel Launcher’s home screen. Sitting right at the bottom of the screen in the area closest to users’ thumbs, it’s meant to be a jump point to almost every item on one’s phone and beyond. Users can search the web and Google’s trending topics, documents, apps, and contacts on their devices, and even access a handful of settings. It also includes a built-in shortcut to AI Mode, Google’s new Gemini-powered search effort that spits out richer, more contextually relevant information based on queries.
Pixel Launcher’s search bar is far more potent in its current form than it was when I keenly scrutinized it several months ago. However, I’m still not convinced that this warrants its permanent placement on a prime piece of screen real estate.
Andy Walker / Android Authority
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