Andy Walker / Android Authority
I spent several hours rummaging through the Google app for a recent opinion piece detailing its excellent Saved feature. However, I don’t use this app often, if ever. This got me thinking: why is the Google app still around, and why does Google insist on keeping it when a search widget from Chrome could essentially replace everything I use it for?
While I’m sure many users (including myself, initially) feel that it’s a vestigial piece of software from Android versions of old, it plays a far more critical role on your phone than its meek public-facing presence suggests. As infrequently as I — or you — actually tap that Google app icon, we all still use its hidden features many times a day.
How often do you use the Google app? 31 votes Daily, I use it very regularly 29 % Often, I use it at least once a month or more 10 % Rarely, I use it sparingly 16 % Never, I have no need for it at all 45 %
Remind me again: What is the Google app?
Andy Walker / Android Authority
The Google app arrived more than 15 years ago and initially facilitated Google’s modest mobile search efforts on Android. The “googlequicksearchbox” part of its app name sheds light on these humble beginnings.
I quite enjoy Google’s vague description of the app on the Play Store, almost as if it’s also unsure why it exists. “The Google App offers more ways to search about the things that matter to you,” it states. Wow, Google, you’re really selling, and it’s important to me. And judging by the reviews, many users have no idea what the Google app is truly responsible for either. Maybe some of them know it’s responsible for the search widget on their homescreen, but maybe not. To be more realistic about its talents, though, the app offers so much more functionality than that. Today, it anchors several core Google features and services.
Beyond the Google app’s seemingly innocuous existence lie oodles of essential connections that, if yanked, would leave your phone crippled.
Beyond the Google app’s seemingly innocuous existence lie oodles of essential connections that, if yanked, would leave your Android phone crippled. Because my bar for entertainment is quite low, I disabled the Google app on a few devices to see exactly which services this would affect; it was remarkable how many it killed.
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