Android 17 brings with it a long-awaited change to the Pixel Launcher

For years, Google Pixel users have lived with a constant, immovable fixture on their home screen: the search bar of the Pixel Launcher.

Although Google has introduced functional updates over time, this element of the interface has remained devoid of meaningful customization options, forcing users to accept its presence and the default configuration.

With the release of the Android 17 Beta 1, however, it seems that Mountain View has decided to listen to the community feedback, introducing an unprecedented flexibility and significant visual changes.

Android 17, its finally possible to customize the Google search bar

The update marks an interesting reversal of direction compared to the recent stylistic direction. With Android 16 QPR1, the search bar had received a restyling in Material style, characterized by a design that brought the aesthetic closer to that of Google’s dedicated Search widget, introducing a separate container for the shortcut to the AI mode.

The first Beta of Android 17 abandons this approach to return to a visual configuration reminiscent of previous versions: a single elongated “pill” that houses all shortcuts, including the commands for the voice assistant, Google Lens and the AI mode.

The new look appears slightly wider than before and adopts a transparency that removes the colored ring around the search field, preferring a more seamless integration with the background.

Also the G” logo undergoes a different aesthetic treatment: it abandons the classic four colors (red, yellow, green and blue) in favor of a solid tint or a subtle gradient based on the wallpaper theme in use.

The aim is to ensure that the shortcut icons stand out more against the phone’s background.

New customization options

The most substantial change concerns shortcut management. Until now, the Pixel Launcher bar offered a predefined set of buttons.

With Android 17, Google has finally extended to the launcher the same flexibility already present in the optional search widget: users can now replace the link to the AI mode with other functions.

Although it’s not yet possible to set the opening of an app of choice, the alternatives offered are numerous and include quick access to Gemini Live, Translator, Song Search, Sports, Finance, News, Weather and Dictionary.

However, some constraints remain, such as the impossibility of modifying the links to voice search and to Google Lens, or the absence of a native option to completely hide the search bar.

Nevertheless, the ability to configure at least one of the slots represents a step forward toward a less constrained user experience.

Managing the At a Glance widget

Another long-awaited change concerns the At a Glance widget (in Italian called Riepilogo). After tests started already with Android 14, it seems that Android 17 will finally make available the option to remove this element from the home screen, freeing up valuable space on the home.

The procedure is not as immediate as for classic widgets, which you can simply long-press to remove, but requires you to act through the dedicated settings of the widget itself.

Being this only the first Beta version, it is fair to note that Google might decide to modify or remove these features in future builds before the stable release.

Nevertheless, the direction taken suggests a clear intent to give users greater control over the look and functionality of their device.