Android 17 could finally let pixel users fully customize their home screen

Owners of Google Pixel smartphones may soon gain much more freedom when customizing their home screens. New findings inside Android 17 QPR1 Beta 2 suggest that Google is preparing an option to disable the permanent search bar located at the bottom of the Pixel launcher.

The Google search widget has been part of Android for years. Back in the days of the Motorola Droid running Android 2.0, the search bar was permanently fixed at the top of the screen and could not be removed. Now, Android 17 may finally change that approach.

Developers discovered several code strings referencing features such as “Customize search bar,” “Show search bar,” and “Search bar settings.” Based on these findings, Pixel users could soon be able to toggle the search bar on or off directly from launcher settings.

Many Android users have long wanted the option to remove the search bar entirely. Some prefer a cleaner and more minimal home screen, while others use third-party launchers with different layouts and customization tools. There are also users who rely on the search function inside the app drawer instead of keeping a permanent widget on the main screen.

Android 17 may also introduce another highly requested feature — the ability to disable the At a Glance widget. This built-in Pixel element displays weather updates, calendar reminders, sports scores, traffic alerts, stock market information, air quality warnings, and even earthquake notifications.

Although At a Glance offers a large amount of useful information, many Pixel owners have been asking Google for years to make the widget removable. Current Android 17 beta builds indicate that the company may finally give users that choice.

The upcoming Google Pixel 11 lineup is expected to debut during the Made By Google event in August. The new devices are rumored to feature the Tensor G6 processor manufactured by TSMC using an advanced 2nm process.

Google’s Pixel series continues to attract attention thanks to its AI-focused experience. Instead of treating artificial intelligence as a simple showcase feature, Google is pushing AI tools that proactively deliver useful information before users even search for it.