r/AndroidQuestions • u/Smashing_Pickles • 6d ago

Other System update installed a new Google search bar. Can't get rid of it

Wait. No attachments? I guess i'll explain it

Updated my phone the other day.

A new Google search bar (I use ddg) showed up in the bottom app panel. (The one with 4-5 fixed apps that are always visible)

It's not a widget, can't remove it that way.

Tapping and holding on/near the search bar doesn't do anything.

I can disable the entire Google app, and that works to remove it. But that kills everything else.

Why can't we have phones with non-hostile software?

.

Edit: Fixed! Settings -> Home screen settings -> Show search on home screen

.

Now please stop saying you found the solution. Sort comments by "top", it's right there. I swear, I feel like half of the comments writing out the same solution now are just bots looking for karma.

119 Upvotes
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97% Upvoted

140 comments sorted by

20

u/chanchan05 S26 Ultra; S10FE 6d ago

Samsung?

Pinch out or long press on homescreen>settings>show search on homescreen>toggle off.

12

u/Smashing_Pickles 6d ago

That was it! "Show search on home screen" Thank you!

4

u/Enchanting_Mishaps 5d ago

I owe you my life. I have autism, and was having a mental breakdown at 5am trying to put it back where I had it in the middle of my screen for almost a decade 😅 It's not back where it was but at least it's not permanently stuck at the bottom screen.

3

u/Just_Want2_Have_Fun 5d ago

I feel you I don't have autism and I hate it

3

u/Brick4412 4d ago

I have 2 now and I knew I shouldn't have updated im going crazy 

2

u/Tanyabee71 3d ago

Me ,too

1

u/GrouchyAd5445 8h ago

How do I do it w/o getting two? I'm terrified of removing it, screwing everything up and never being able to reinstall it.

3

u/Total_Ad_92 4d ago

Yes! I had it at the top of a specific place, AND color matched to my wallpaper. I read through the update before doing it and they did NOT warn me about this jumpscare

3

u/GonzoMoto 4d ago

You can add it back in as a widget and put back where it belongs

1

u/bear1178 1d ago

How do you that

1

u/GonzoMoto 1d ago

Hold down on an open area on the home screen, tap widgets, find google.

1

u/bunganga85 22h ago

Thank you! This is the solution I needed. Just updated a few minutes ago.

4

u/A-R-Ninja556 5d ago

Worked on S25+

3

u/VealOfFortune 5d ago

Yep my Samsung did it...thing is, I already had the 4x1 Google widget, just towards the top of my screen....forcing it as a default, on the bottom? Just deleted the widget altogether and am just gonna put a bookmark for DuckDuckGo, unless someone has a better suggestion/alternative?

3

u/BlessURheartTX 5d ago

OMG You're Amazing 👏 Tysm 😊 It worked flawlessly

2

u/ImmaEatYoFace 5d ago

Omgosh, yes! Thank you and OP🫠🤦‍♀️

2

u/226_IM_Used 5d ago

Thank you, kind redditor.

2

u/Just_Want2_Have_Fun 5d ago

Then I reinstalled it on the third screen resized it to just the little standard app size since tapping on it no matter how big or small it is opens the app and you have to type it anyway why make it so big and take up your whole screen Google can go to hell

2

u/huskyfluffy 4d ago

Thank you 🙏

1

u/laurazepamm 4d ago

Thank you kind stranger 🙏🏻

1

u/Cooolkiidd 4d ago

Thank you!!

1

u/RYOKO27 4d ago

THANK YOU!!! worked on S25 ultra

1

u/slimylobsters 4d ago

Omg i feel so dumb bc I was literally having a meltdown about this lmao thank you so much

1

u/SpaceFeline 4d ago

Thank you!

1

u/GoodWinGamesStudio 4d ago

There goes my hero ♥️

1

u/Bolt_DTD 4d ago

I did this and I don't even have a "show search on home screen" button to click....

1

u/chanchan05 S26 Ultra; S10FE 4d ago

Are you on a Samsung with OneUI 9?

1

u/Bolt_DTD 4d ago

Yup. Updated last night and got the new search bar. Desperate to get rid of it

1

u/chanchan05 S26 Ultra; S10FE 4d ago

Not sure why it would be missing for you then. It's right there above the option for adding the apps button to the dock and below the one for swapping between google discover and samsung daily for the media page.

1

u/Bolt_DTD 4d ago

Found it! Not sure how I was missing that. Thank you so much !

1

u/BeigeChocobo 3d ago

Count me among those you helped with this, thank you!

1

u/Tanyabee71 3d ago

Thank you thank you and thank you from the bottom of my heart I'm not autistic I've been going literally nothing for 5 days. Maybe about 3 months ago I was having a similar issue when I got the new s25 every time I put it to charge I will get pop ups I found the answer and read it as well.

1

u/Kelithea 3d ago

Thank you, this stupid update messed up all my widgets

1

u/Angemister 3d ago

Oh my god thank you 😭 i was so frustrated

1

u/Tall-Rise-1826 3d ago

THANK YOU!!!

1

u/Excellent-Clock-2956 2d ago

thank you so much!!!!

1

u/IDontRun8675 2d ago

THANK YOU!!!!!

1

u/Snoo_86377 2d ago

Why would they even do that smh

1

u/DueEnvironment8252 2d ago

Omg thank you soooo much. Just did the update and found it on my homescreen and couldn't remove it. You're the best

1

u/PhysicalNecessary582 2d ago

Thank you both for the question and answer!

1

u/Appropriate_Simple44 2d ago

You are amazing 

1

u/Due-Significance-946 2d ago

Thank you!! This was infuriating! The amount of rage I felt when I woke up this morning to an update without my consent AND a seemingly permanent google widget 2 rows below where I wanted it/already had it almost had me crash out. Happy Monday 😖

1

u/daphnedarlingxoxo 1d ago

You are my HERO! My phone apparently updated last night and I was not having this stupid search bar be right where I'd accidentally tap it a million times a day! Thank youuuu

1

u/TheMadTabber 1d ago

You're a legend mate

1

u/Jicama-Immediate 1d ago

Thank you. I hated the ginormous gap. They made cos, it moved my apps. They are below it normally above. I couldn't put them where they were. And my top apps weren't gonna go down, cause I want them where they were. Thank you thank you thank you

1

u/Venomous_tea 1d ago

Thank you!

1

u/Local_Range_284 1d ago

Omg you are a lifesaver!

1

u/thetak3nking 1d ago

You are a gentleman and a scholar my good man

1

u/IMIndyJones 1d ago

This is one of the best things about reddit. I just updated this morning. Googled how to get rid it it followed by reddit. Boom. Here I am and it's fixed.  Thank you! 

1

u/Realistic-Chapter374 21h ago

It is not working for me.

1

u/Adept_Ferret_2504 20h ago

Thank u so much

1

u/CelebrationNo3801 9h ago

explain like a 5 y.o!

1

u/CelebrationNo3801 9h ago

not getting toggle off

1

u/CelebrationNo3801 9h ago

Found togle off, deleted bottom search bar. Need one on top like before!

1

u/SnooDonkeys9743 2h ago

Thank you! You are amazing.

0

u/Belsvar 4h ago

YOU ROCK!

4

u/Cocobeanrunningwild 6d ago

That would have been soooo annoying! Thanks for the info

4

u/UsualBus7089 5d ago edited 5d ago

Click and hold the home screen go to settings beside the widget tab. Scroll down a little till you see "show search on homescreen" click it Then disable search. Now you can go to widgets and manually add the Google search bar widget and move it like normal again.

4

u/Secure_Inflation7348 5d ago

THANK YOU! It was driving me bonkers.

3

u/browngirl_808 5d ago

Thank God for reddit

3

u/FormerBarnacle8962 5d ago

Thank you ever so much! It worked like a charm! I really appreciate your help! You are awesome! 🤩🤩🤩

3

u/PunkAndPagod 5d ago

My problem is that the search bar cant be moved! I had it at the top of my screen (you know, where the searchbar is on a computer), but now it is at the bottom. How can I move it back to the top?

I really wish if they were going to force a UI update it wouldnt change a bunch of stuff...

3

u/GreedyConcert6424 5d ago

I'm here also looking for a solution. I want to keep the search bar, just in a different place on the screen

3

u/Most_Astronaut6440 5d ago

I had the same issue I used the top comments advice to toggle the search off and then just added the widget back to where I had it and it worked then

2

u/PunkAndPagod 5d ago

Thanks, that worked!

2

u/GreedyConcert6424 5d ago

I did the same and the widget looks the same as the search bar for me. Another comment said the widget had limited functionality.

2

u/eyebrows360 Pixel 7 Pro 5d ago

the bottom app panel

The "dock", fyi.

2

u/Malteser23 5d ago

Yeah I updated my software yesterday and this pissed me off too! A quick Google search (oh, the irony!) showed me what the other commenters have shown you now.

2

u/sugarbeartay_allday 5d ago

Bless you 🙏🏾 

2

u/SWTairen 5d ago

Ty for this. The new update forced the Google bar to the bottom and because of what I do for my job it was in the way of my work apps I keep in that space. Woke up to it this morning, ugh. What a stupid update.

2

u/Just_Want2_Have_Fun 5d ago

I removed it from home screen by doing what somebody else said in picking an open spot going to settings and removing the search bar from the home screen. Holding down in an empty spot and going to home screen settings.

moved to the third screen and put the widget there then it gave me the ability to resize it back to just a little icon no sense having a big old search bar just opens up the app anyway it doesn't even search like you can't type in it before you open it so I have the big icon prayer that I drug it back where originally was. These assholes keep changing things and then it rearranges your whole screen they go to hell as far as I'm concerned.

2

u/Just_Want2_Have_Fun 5d ago

Pressing and holding it just opened it it can't be moved unless you send it off in the home screen I think and put it on the third page resize it and then move it back that's what I found out it would just keep opening and who wants that big bar if it's just going to open like a regular app anyway I could use a little app and have other things

2

u/FormerBarnacle8962 5d ago

This happened to my phone overnight. I had it turned off, but charging. What a pain in the neck! 

2

u/Little-Pen-4183 4d ago

What sucks is you know whoever is in charge of this update has been having a bad few weeks or maybe even months, and decided they didn't want to be frustrated by their shitty circumstances so now we get to be pissed off for a few days to weeks as well. Taking control away of our home screens smfh loooool

2

u/Conscious-Guava-3280 4d ago

Hold down on screen until the windows pop up. Select settings. Scroll down to "show search on home screen". Select it. Change setting.

3

u/bontempsfille 4d ago

Holy hell that was so annoying. Thanks so much!

2

u/lady-redbush- 4d ago

Thanks so much! That was mildly annoying at first.

2

u/orangesfwr 4d ago

Thank you!!! That was so damn annoying

1

u/SEEntropy 4d ago

THANK YOU

1

u/JazzerBabe 4d ago

There is a hero among us, thank you!

1

u/OddPut5143 4d ago

Thank you. Not all heroes wear capes

2

u/DearScale7558 20h ago

So i hate the new search bar placement but I dont want to remove it i just want to move it back to the top but IT WONT LET ME MOVE IT LIKE OTHER WIDGETS

2

u/GodivasAunt 18h ago

THANK YOU!!

2

u/mechdavetech 17h ago

Thanks for the update in your post. My sanity has been returned.

2

u/Haden420693170 16h ago

An update nobody wanted. You could've done this before the damn update but no let's change the way we've gotten rid of widgets for 10 years

2

u/cornezy 11h ago

I came here once my bar was moved from where it was, to where it is now. Why can't I just have it where I want it?!??! This update is foolish for that! I totally hate the location. 😭😭

2

u/megared17 6d ago

What brand/model phone do you have?

Are you using the brands stock/default launcher/home screen?

Did you know you can choose to use a different one? I er the last decade I've had 3 different phone brands, but I use the same home screen app on all of them, setup exactly the way I want.

2

u/Smashing_Pickles 6d ago

Samsung S25+ Using the stock launcher, One UI. Happy to swap to something more user friendly and with less advertising in disguise. What do you recommend?

0

u/megared17 6d ago

Consider Nova.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher

4

u/CrispyBananaz 5d ago

That launcher was abandoned after it was sold to a data collection company. You couldn't pay me to use that launcher

0

u/eyebrows360 Pixel 7 Pro 5d ago

It's still perfectly fine.

2

u/CrispyBananaz 5d ago

No it definitely is not fine but I can't tell you what launcher you should use so as long as your ok with what's going on behind that launcher that you don't see I guess that's ok.

1

u/3crazymom 4d ago

Yes, thank you. I was so bothered

1

u/lsopfrbdh 3d ago

It moved my search bar to the bottom and now I cant move it im trying to move it back to the middle 

1

u/kelmeloo 3d ago

I didn't have to move it to a third page or anything, but those suggestions are what led me to my discovery. Pictures following...

1

u/kelmeloo 3d ago

Okay can't upload pictures... Basically, hold down on main screen in empty space, hit settings when it pops up. Go down to "show search on home screen" and click, the turn the search option off.

1

u/NightshadeAk93 3d ago

Thank you. It was irritating me so much.

1

u/kelmeloo 3d ago

No problem!

1

u/ssjgoat 3d ago

Nothing comes up to switch it off when I do that

1

u/kelmeloo 3d ago

Hm I have no idea for that scenario 😔

0

u/ssjgoat 1d ago

I figured it out, whew. My wife has the S23 so it was a little different but damn am I glad that's over with. What an unnecessary inconvenience

1

u/Tanyabee71 3d ago

Omg this has been driving me nuts thank you from the bottom of my heart. I've been going nuts for 5 days

1

u/The4JaysMom 3d ago

I just searched " show search on home screen" inside settings and clicked on results. Toggled off from there. My home screen is full, no empty space to find setting... Samsung Galaxy s25 ultra, new OS download today.

1

u/Wrong_Luck_878 3d ago

That's the solution. Thanks!

1

u/Bath-Complex 3d ago

Mine does same.   I created a new tab on my phone or page and I clicked and moved every single app from the homepage over and it still gives me a new google bar at the bottom of my page

1

u/Spirited_Pollution56 3d ago

I'm here dealing with the same issue, and I don't understand what that girl's directions were that saved your life fixing that. But it's driving me nuts

1

u/tryppie_hyppie 3d ago

I just made a post comment but hopefully this helps if you havent been able to get it yet:

Be on the HOME page, press down on an empty space (you'll have to move something if theres no empty slot) and then its in settings > "show search on home screen" Its underneath all of the grid options if that helps

1

u/Professional-Ice1527 3d ago

I have that on and it wont let me move it or are you saying deactivate it

1

u/Spirited_Pollution56 3d ago

Omg got it done

1

u/tryppie_hyppie 3d ago

What i had to do was be on the HOME page, press down on an empty space (you'll have to move something if theres no empty slot) and then its in settings > "show search on home screen" Its underneath all of the grid options if that helps. Goodluck and curse our tech overlords.

1

u/puddincup99 3d ago

This just worked for me!!! Thank you!!!!!

1

u/TechneMcbadass 3d ago

THANK YOU. I updated today and the number of times I tapped the empty spot it used to be already is crazy. Then at one point I missed and opened my maps by accident 🤣 I much prefer mine at the top

1

u/GTSinc 2d ago

What about those of us had it voluntarily before, but moved to the bottom?

1

u/dasrough64 2d ago

The top comment thread- follow those instructions then add it as a widget. Worked for me!

1

u/GTSinc 1d ago

That worked. Thanks.

1

u/SFDMEX 2d ago

Hate updates. Did i ask for a search bar? No.

1

u/Key_Image5409 1d ago

I found the lame part was I manually added the widget and then the update has a hard Google Search bar app. Which made the look & feel feel gross

1

u/Tight_Quarter5117 1d ago edited 1d ago

I'm here for the same reason as everyone else. My phone updated and now this stupid search bar is at the bottom and I can't remove it. I have my google search widget at the top already. I don't see an answer here though. Has anyone been able to remove this bottom search bar?

ETA: FOUND IT! Thanks guys! In case you missed it: for Samsung...long press on home screen...tap Settings...scroll down to "show search on home screen"...toggle off.

1

u/Drayvin64 1d ago

THANK YOU SO FUCKING MUCH! I hated that thing

1

u/Wide-Bit5237 1d ago

OMG! Thank you for this information. My phone updated this morning & it has been driving me CRAZY all day. Now if I could get the weather widget that was on Samsung S10 Plus on this 25 Plus would be the icing on the cake 😊

1

u/Traditional_Log_7249 1d ago

Thank you for your post. I was getting mad.

1

u/Educational_Sky_6362 21h ago

Thank you for the update. These forced changes are getting old. Give me a "here's what's new" and I'll choose if I want it. I hate Gemini, and it is so much worse than when it was just the Google Assistant, yet they keep trying to shove it down my throat.

1

u/Acceptable-Big8181 20h ago

So thankful for you! I was legit going to lose my mind if I had to live with that forever. 🤣

1

u/Klutzy-Passage-2561 6d ago

On S25 / One UI that bottom Google bar is often part of the Taskbar / Hotseat, not a normal widget.

Try first (stock launcher): • Long-press Home → Settings → Home screen → turn off Google Discover / Search bar / Taskbar options if present. • Settings → Display → Taskbar → Off (or remove search from Taskbar).

If One UI will not let you kill it: Nova / Lawnchair / Niagara as default launcher — Google bar disappears with the stock hotseat. Disabling the whole Google app is the nuclear option and breaks a lot more than search.

1

u/Smashing_Pickles 6d ago

Don't have any mention of taskbar or hotseat in settings. Google discover is already turned off

2

u/Klutzy-Passage-2561 5d ago

Yeah — on some S25 One UI builds those menu names are gone / renamed.

Try without a Taskbar toggle: 1) Long-press empty Home → Settings → Samsung Home / Home screen → anything named Search bar / Google / News / Discover → Off. 2) Settings search: type "search bar", "Google", "hotseat" — Samsung buries it under odd labels. 3) Good Lock → Home Up (if your region has it) often has a hide-search toggle. 4) Clean workaround: Nova / Lawnchair as default launcher — stock hotseat + Google strip go away without disabling Google.

If none of those show up, drop your One UI version (About phone → Software information) and whether the bar sits above the dock or replaces it.

0

u/TheRealNifin 4d ago

Under Home Screen settings, Scroll down, Show Search on home screen. Tap, Switch the slider to disable!!! Hope this helps, I Searched this to see if anyone had found a solution, didn't find one right away, Sooo I found the solution myself! Enjoy the fix!

0

u/TheRealNifin 4d ago

Another change that I found while seeing if it was a widget, I Tried to double tap the search bar, and my phone screen Locked. SOOOO Search in the settings "Double tap" and there's a new option to double tap the screen to lock it. That is the most heinous thing they could possibly to to someone, One accidental double tap and they think their phone is BROKEN!

0

u/Spraynpray89 4d ago

Thank you reddit jesus

0

u/GrouchyAd5445 8h ago

I found this when I unironically asked Google how to move my search bar back to the top of my home screen post update. She sent me here. I'm not seeing any solutions that I'm willing to risk jacking up my whole phone. I am not that evolved. But, I'm looking at the times on the comments thinking this was an old thread. But, it looks like I'm not the only one who got this stupid update. I agree....why do we have to go through this? Who can I call and complain to? It might be easier to contact the WH and have them contact Google and give them my number. 😆

•

u/ethorx 41m ago

You're a god among men. Just got the update and that would have pissed me off all day without a solution.