Google Pixel Will Get a Swipe Search Function Like on the IPhone
Google is making big changes to Pixel Launcher, and it’s one of the new Android 15 features that I’m most excited about. In the latest developer preview of the new Android OS, Google has changed the way the search function launches in Pixel Launcher, making it much easier to find apps quickly.
Launchers are one of the most important parts of your smartphone as they are the main display area for your home screen and apps. So, having a good launcher can completely change how easily you use your phone. And the new Pixel Launcher functionality, which many Pixel users have, allows you to open the search function by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.
This may seem like a small change, but it will actually help make the transition to Android much easier for iPhone users. Now, using the Google search bar at the bottom of the screen, you can tap on it and search for an app right from the home screen. You’ll also be able to enable swipe up to start searching, a new feature similar to the swipe down to search feature that Apple includes in iOS.
Having used an iPhone as my daily driver for the past four years, one of the biggest obstacles I had to face when switching to Android to review the Pixel 8 Pro was the fact that I couldn’t do a search. Instead, I had to go in and find my apps manually, which was very annoying and time-consuming. This feature was available in some third-party launchers such as Nova Launcher, but the basic Pixel Launcher options did not offer it.
By changing the way you search in Pixel Launcher, Google is making it easier to find the apps you need. It’s a small quality of life change that will radically change the way you interact with your phone and make the already great Pixel 8 Pro even better.
Apart from the search update, Android 15 Developer Preview 2 will also add a new sub-menu for settings, and some are speculating that new settings may be added since the only thing there currently is a swipe-to-search feature.
It’s only been a couple of months since Google officially unveiled Android 15, and we expect to learn more about it and the upcoming Pixel 8a during Google I/O later this year.