Google Pixel phones will probably let you ditch the search bar in Android 17 QPR1 [Video]

Ben Schoon | May 9 2026 - 5:25 am PT

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 is a clean and refined experience for your Android homescreen, but there have understandably been two key complaints. For years, Google has had two pieces of the homescreen baked into the launcher with no choice on the user’s end – the “At a Glance” widget, and the search bar.

Google added the ability to remove the At a Glance widget with Android 16, and now it looks like the search bar is next in line.

Mystic Leaks shared a screen recording from what appears to be a leaked build of Android 17 QPR1’s stable release – given the timeline at play here, this is all subject to change. With that in mind, this build shows a new toggle that allows users to easily turn off the search bar on the Pixel Launcher.

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The option appears in Pixel Launcher settings > Search bar settings > Show search bar. Toggling this off removes the bottom search bar and pushes your docked apps closer to the bottom of the screen.

It’s a welcome change as, simply put, 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, with the final release landing sometime later this year. In the meantime, the stable release is likely right around the corner.