How to Get the New Pixel 2 Search Bar on Your Current Phone
The Pixel 2 comes with new features that you won’t find in regular Android 8.0, and most of it is the home screen. Google has redesigned its calendar widget to display upcoming events, and as a result, has moved the search bar to the bottom of the screen, below the dock, where you can access it even faster.
If you’ve been following this, you already have a new calendar widget running on your current phone. You can now also get the displaced search bar using the third party app launcher.
Get Pixel 2 Search Bar with Nova Launcher Beta
Nova Launcher is one of the most popular Android launchers thanks to its many customization options and high performance. The latest beta for version 5.5 also adds several new features from Android 8.0 and Pixel 2 to older phones.
The most exciting change is the new search bar, which you can place under the dock on the Pixel 2, or customize to sit right above the dock. To customize it, go to Nova’s settings, then the Dock, and then the search bar. You can also customize it by returning to Nova’s Preferences by selecting Dock and then Search Bar Style.
The latest beta version of Nova Launcher also adds a new popup menu from Android 8.0 – this is the menu that you see when you long press on your home screen, app, or folder. Finally, you will get the new google icon animation when you drag the app to your home screen.
Follow the instructions here to launch the new beta.
Action Launcher offers even more customization options
If you prefer Action Launcher Nova, you’re in luck anyway. Earlier this month, the app actually added a new Google search bar, shortly after the Pixel 2 was introduced. It also contains many additional customization options to change the shape of the search bar and add other shortcuts.
The latest version of Action Launcher also brings you several other new features, including the Google Now feed, notification dots, and a new weather widget. You can download version 29.0 of the app launcher right now from the Play Store if you are using Android 5.0 or higher.