Google Pixel phones may let your turn off search bar soon [Video]

In a shocking turn of events, Google has revealed an upcoming feature that could change the way we interact with our smartphones forever. The ability to turn off the built-in search bar on Pixel phones, a staple in the Pixel Launcher since its inception, is making waves.

Mystic Leaks has obtained a screen recording from what appears to be a leaked build of Android 17 QPR1's stable release, providing a glimpse into this new feature. With the ability to remove the At a Glance widget with Android 16, it seems that Google has been quietly working on this update.

The toggle for disabling the search bar can now be found in Pixel Launcher settings > Search bar settings > Show search bar. By toggling this off, users can eliminate the bottom search bar and move their docked apps closer to the bottom of the screen. This change may seem minor, but it could have a significant impact on how we navigate our devices.

Google has yet to officially announce when the final release of Android 17 QPR1 will arrive, but insiders suggest that it's likely sometime later this year. In the meantime, users can expect the stable release to be a close approximation of the leaked build, which Mystic Leaks obtained just days ago. As we wait for more information, it's clear that this new feature has significant implications for how we use our smartphones.