Google is supercharging the search bar on Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy smartphones by allowing it to pull up more than just applications. The search bar on these phones has been enhanced with a new Pixel Search utility, allowing users to search across their phones for contacts, photos, settings and more.
Pixel Search Is Available on Pixel 11 and the Latest Samsung Foldables
Initially spotted during the Android 17 beta testing, Android Authority reports that the Google Pixel 11 series comes with Pixel Search pre-installed. It is a system-level upgrade that deeply integrates with the Google ecosystem.
Image Credit: Android Authority
Image Credit: Android Authority
Image Credit: Android Authority
Rather than acting as a standalone application with a traditional home screen icon, it operates entirely in the background to power the app drawer's search bar. By typing a query, users can search for data spread across the Google suite.
This includes images from Google Photos, Documents from Drive, Calendar events, Alarms, contacts, and Specific Settings in the Settings app.
This is very similar to Global Search on third-party UI's such as ColorOS and Vivo Global Search on Oppo and Vivo phones. However, one of their caveats is that they're restricted to searching within their own system apps, such as Gallery and Contacts.
And much like the utilities on third-party UIs, Google has hosted the Pixel Search feature directly on the Play Store as an app. This should ensure that users can update it independently without waiting for Google to push official Android updates.
Surprisingly, Android Authority found the app installable on the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra from the Play Store. That said, this cross-service integration is strictly limited to the search bar housed inside the app drawer. The default search widget sitting on the main home screen does not currently support these expanded ecosystem queries.
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Will Pixel Search Arrive on Older Pixels?
At this time, it remains unconfirmed whether Google plans to roll this powerful search experience out across Android or older-generation Pixel phones.
Given its name, it will probably remain a Pixel-exclusive feature. Besides, considering Google's history of trickling down new features to older Pixels, it should arrive on last-gen Pixels later.
That said, since Pixel Search is supported on Samsung's latest foldables, we really hope Google releases a general version that could be supported across the Android ecosystem.
Brands can then integrate it into their own Global Search, making it easier to choose between searching in system apps versus in the Google Suite.
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