How to remove the Google search bar from the screen. How to remove Google search on Android. How to remove Google search bar from Android smartphone home screen. How to remove Google search on different devices

The voice command OK Google (OK Google) allows you to control the Android operating system and other applications using your voice. With its help, you can launch applications, create reminders, send text messages, search for information on the Internet, use GPS navigation and much more.

In one of the previous articles we talked about. This article will talk about the opposite. Here you will learn how to disable OK Google if this function turns out to be uninteresting to you.

To disable the OK Google feature, you need to first open the Google Now app. Google Now opens differently on different Android devices. For example, on devices with the latest versions of pure Android, to open Google Now you need to swipe your finger from left to right on the first desktop. On older versions of Android, the Google Now application is launched by swiping your finger up from the home button. On smartphones with non-standard skins, some other methods of opening Google Now may be used.

In general, there may be some difficulties with the launch of Google Now. If you are unable to launch this application using the methods described above, then you can simply open the list of all applications and find this application there. It should be noted that this application may be called “Google Now” or simply “Google”.

After launching Google Now, you need to open the left side menu. To do this, you need to swipe from the left edge of the screen or click on the button in the upper left corner of the screen.

After this, you need to go to the “Settings” section (not to be confused with the “Customize” section).

In the Google Now settings, you need to follow the path “Voice search - Recognition Okay Google”.

After this, a window will open in front of you in which you can disable the OK Google voice command. There are two options available here:

  • From the Google app;
  • From all applications.

The first option enables or disables recognition of Google's OK command in the Google Now app. And the second option disables recognition of the OK Google command in other applications and on the desktop.

If you want to completely disable OK Google, then turn both of these options to the “Off” position. If you want to leave OK Google in the Google Now application, but disable it in other applications, then turn off only the second option.

Despite its usefulness and ease of use, the Google search bar has one significant drawback - it takes up free space on the mobile device screen that could be used for more popular applications or widgets. Therefore, many Android OS users prefer to get rid of this service. Let's look at how to remove the Google search bar on Android.

Removing the search bar through the smartphone settings

You can remove the Google search engine using the built-in capabilities of your device. This is done as follows:

At first glance, everything looks very simple and clear. However, there is one caveat - in new versions of Android (versions 5 and 6), there is no ability to erase standard applications. The only thing that can be done is to stop their work. The same applies to the Google search engine.

These actions have a temporary effect. So, by stopping the Google Search program, you will ensure that the search bar disappears from the desktop. However, after restarting the system it will appear again.

With mobile devices running pure Android 6 and running the Google launcher, things are even worse. Their search bar is not a separate application, so it is not only possible to remove it, but also to stop it.

Removing the Google search bar by installing a new launcher

In phones and tablets running Android 6, the Google search service is removed by installing another launcher. To do this you need:

After completing these steps, the Google search bar will no longer appear on your desktop.

Removing the search bar from your desktop using third-party software

On Android 6, as well as earlier versions of this OS, you can remove standard software from the device using the Root Uninstaller program or another similar utility. For this application to work properly, you must activate Superuser rights on your phone. This is done as follows:

After Superuser rights are unlocked, you can proceed directly to deleting the search string:


How to disable Google search on Android. Have you ever tried to ask “Okay, Google. How can I remove you?”? Personally, I’m not very comfortable using the Google Now service, but others are delighted with it. On the one hand, these services provide great opportunities, on the other hand, they mercilessly waste precious battery power. The questions “how to disable Google search” and “how to disable Google Now” ended up being quite popular, and today we will give answers to these questions in this short instruction. In different versions of Android and in different launchers, these services are intertwined, so we will try to fully consider the issue of disabling them in this instruction.

How to disable Google search on Android

The search bar in different versions of Android and in different launchers is both an independent application and part of launchers or services. Therefore, the question of how to remove the Google search bar does not have a clear answer, but we will try to present different options.

Using TouchWiz from Samsung as an example

Often, on most new devices, Google Search is part of the pre-installed Google Start launcher, which includes a mini-Google Search utility. On older versions of Google Search is a separate application.

The first thing we will need to do is go to the device settings. Next, we look for the item called “ applications" Well, or something like this, depending on the version of the operating system and user interface.

Found it? Great! We unceremoniously break into the storage of standard and non-standard programs, break them, put them on the floor like an icon and look for the leader of this gang. That is, Google Search or Google Start. After that, click on the application, ignoring all other information about it.

If the process can be completed or stopped, we do this to avoid errors. After that, click “ delete" or " Disable"If necessary, we confirm the action. In principle, the issue with the Search will be resolved after this.

When we exit to the main screen, the old screensaver awaits us, but without the annoying widget that begs to be asked for advice. If you have previously used the Google Start launcher, the system will ask you about the means by which you now intend to launch the main screen of the device.

As mentioned above, on some devices or on older versions of Android this will be a separate application. The actions will be similar.

However, not all devices have a standard ability to delete, especially if you have a pure Android 5 or 6 device with the Google Start launcher.

We have not yet found a solution for this case, perhaps we will supplement the instructions later.

How to disable Google Now suggestions service

On the one hand, this service provides great opportunities - tips on travel time home, weather forecast, tracking your parking location and much more. On the other hand, it mercilessly wastes precious battery power and weakens the psyche of those who are afraid of “big brother”. Therefore the question " How to remove Google Now"is quite relevant in modern RuNet.

The service is turned on simply - Google offers you a sea of ​​​​happiness and you agree.

But to disable the service, different options are possible.

First, let's tell you how this was done in previous versions, and perhaps (correct me) it is still done in many devices. Before the update on my smartphone, the Google Now service was a separate application, and accordingly, to disable it, you had to go to settings - applications - find Google Now - disable/delete (if available) Root rights or if your launcher allows).

Some smartphone users have the Google search bar on the home screen, but some want to free up this space for shortcuts to their favorite applications. Now you will learn how to remove Google search on Android on your smartphone without obtaining superuser rights.

Google search on the main screen

Do you recognize? This is Google's search bar, and on some Android phones it's located at the top of the home screen by default.

There are several ways to get rid of it, and we recommend starting with the most obvious: press and hold the search bar and see if the option to move it to the trash appears.

Unfortunately, this method will not work on smartphones with a pre-installed search bar, but there are other options.

We remove search through the application settings menu

The second simple and accessible solution to the issue is to disable the search bar by disabling the Google application. However, in this case, the freed up space cannot be taken up by shortcuts to your applications. Also, Google Now is disabled, so keep that in mind.

So, our actions:

  • Open "Settings"
  • Go to “Applications”
  • Finding an application from Google
  • Click “Disable”

Using a custom launcher

Alternatively, you can install a launcher, which can be used to customize the appearance of the main screen on Android to suit you without cutting down on the functionality of the system.

Today there are a lot of custom launchers available for free download, including on Google Play (for security reasons, we recommend downloading launchers from this store).

Go to the Play Store and install any launcher you like. There are both paid and free ones here.

Let's look at the procedure using Nova Launcher as an example:
  1. Open Google Play
  2. We find
  3. Select the application and click “Install”
  4. After installation, open it
  5. If you have already used Nova Launcher, you can select saved settings, otherwise click “Skip”
  6. Launch Nova Launcher from the shortcut on the main screen and switch to the user interface
  7. Now, by pressing and holding the Google search bar, you can resize it, remove it, or edit it. This frees up space for the deleted search string for applications.

In “Settings” you can set Nova Launcher as the default launcher by following the following path: “Settings” → “Applications” → “Customize applications” (click on the gear icon) → “Default applications”.


Google has an incentive to keep users in its ecosystem. That's why the Google search bar takes up space on the home screen of every new Android device. If you don't use the search bar, you can get rid of it.

Go to:

Why remove the Google search bar

Google wants its Assistant to be popular. So they put a microphone icon on the search bar, hoping that you use it due to its convenient placement. But if you're not into it, you should definitely clear some space on your home screen.

The most common problem is screen fill: that bar takes up space that could be better used by displaying app icons or a nice wallpaper.

How to Remove Google Search Bar

Removing the Google search bar is not difficult, but the process differs from device to device. Most of the time you just need to long press on the panel; after a long tap, the option to remove or hide it will appear.

For example, on Samsung and LG phones, you simply delete it like any other home screen widget. However, this process will not work on Sony Xperia mobile phones.

Below are some examples of how to do this. All devices should follow similar steps, so try the first example and if it doesn't work, move on to the next one:

Samsung phones

  • Touch and hold the Google search bar.
  • Drag it to the trash icon at the top of the screen.

To return a search string:

  • Touch and hold an empty space on the Home screen.
  • Click " Widgets" in the menu that appears.
  • Find the Google App folder and tap it.
  • Drag the search bar from the folder to a suitable location on one of your home screens.

Sony phones

  • Touch and hold the Google search bar. A new menu will appear.
  • There will be a Google search bar at the top of the screen, and on the right side Hide. Click " Hide".

  • Press the Home or Return button.
  • The Google search bar should now be hidden.

If you want to get your Google search bar back after you've deleted it, just undo the above steps!

User Suggestions

There are several ways to solve a problem like Google Search, and our readers have suggested some useful methods in the comments. We have included them in the main section of the article for your convenience.

  • Open " Settings", then open " Applications"
  • In the list " All applications» find Google App, tap it and select disable
  • Restart your phone and the search bar should disappear!

Contributed by Kenneth Cyr, here's a simple way that might work for many:

  • Click on an empty space on your desktop
  • Several options will appear, including " Settings". Select them.
  • Uncheck "show Google toolbar on home screen" or similar

How to Remove Google Search Bar Using Custom Launcher

Another easy way to get rid of the Google search bar is to simply find yourself a custom launcher like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher. It will help you fully customize your Android device, making it look and work the way you want it. Some launchers are free.

It should be noted that installing a custom launcher is the only way to get rid of the Google search bar on Google's Pixel and Pixel 2 phones.