The first Android 17 beta is now available And while the official focus is on large screens and performance, one of the most talked-about changes is in a much more everyday place: the Pixel's home screen. Google has used this preview version to tweak the Pixel Launcher search bar and give it a much more flexible role.
Beyond the internal system adjustments, this beta introduces two key new features in the Pixel launcher: a search bar It now behaves like a disguised Google widget, and offers greater control over what appears at the top of the home screen, including the classic "At a Glance" widget. These are subtle changes, but they affect the daily use of the brand's phones, including in Europe and Spain.
Design change: the bar returns to a pill style and is integrated as a widget
In Android 16, the Pixel Launcher search bar showed thick borders with Material You style colorsclearly differentiated from the rest of the elements. With Android 17 Beta 1, Google has backtracked on that visual approach and returned to a cleaner look: a translucent pill which is reminiscent of previous versions of the system.
This redesign isn't just aesthetic. The bar has, in practice, become the Google search widget integrated into the launcherThis explains why its behavior and options are so similar to the classic widget: Google is thus unifying the interface element it uses to experiment with shortcuts, design tests, and search settings.
An important point for those who prefer the previous look: There is no official method to recover the old barThe usual tricks to restore the previous Pixel Launcher design no longer work with this beta, so, at least for now, the new layout is the only one available.
When using the bar in Android 17 Beta 1, it can be seen that it includes integrated access to AI Mode, voice search and Google Lens within the pill itself, instead of placing them outside or against a colored background. The overall feeling is one of a more compact and homogeneous interface, with all the elements concentrated in a single block.
Configurable shortcuts within the search bar
One of the most practical changes is the possibility of choose the shortcut that lives within the bar itselfBy default, Android 17 Beta 1 displays an access to AI Mode, but the user can replace it with other tools without too much trouble.
To modify that shortcut, simply hold down the bar, enter the Pixel Launcher settings related to search and select another option. Among the alternatives seen in the beta are services such as Gemini Live, the Translator, the app finder, the Weather or a DictionaryAmong other possibilities. It's the same flexibility that the Google widget already offered, now applied directly to the launcher.
When one of these access points is touched, the bar updates instantly and displays the newly configured shortcut. From then on, tapping the icon opens the chosen function. For now, though, There is no way to remove the voice search or Lens icons that appear in the bar, so the customization only affects the additional shortcut.
It's important to note that this is a beta version: in some cases, the shortcut settings may behave somewhat erratically or take a while to apply. This is expected behavior in initial builds and could be refined in future updates before the stable release.
European search and context provider selector
Integrating the bar as a widget brings with it a less visible but very relevant new feature: a specific section for Search settings within Pixel Launcher which allows you to decide which application acts as the search provider in that box.
Through these adjustments it has been verified that it is possible activate different compatible providersOptions mentioned include DuckDuckGo, Mozilla Firefox, Chrome, Pixel Search (a variant reminiscent of the classic search bar, with more features), and even Google Maps running as the search engine from within the bar itself. Actual availability may vary depending on region, version, and installed apps.
The key technical point is that Any app could become a provider if it meets a specific condition: that your first widget It does not require prior configuration before being placed on the home screen. This limitation opens the door to interesting ideas, such as search engines focused on local content, contextual searches, or integrations with specific services, not limited to traditional web engines.
In Europe and the European Economic Area, this movement fits with the regulatory and antitrust requirements which affect Google. The company already documents options in its support for changing the default search engine on Pixel devices in Japan and the EEA, with a guided assistant from the home screen. The arrival of this selector in Android 17 Beta 1 suggests that Google is preparing a more consistent experience for markets like Spain, where users are requesting more choice.
Even so, there are clear limitations in this beta: the chosen provider not only influences the bar, it also determines Which application is shown on the "minus one" screen? (the one that appears when you swipe left on the home screen). For now, Google only allows its own app to occupy that space, so it's not yet possible to officially place alternatives there.
Goodbye (if you want) to the "At a Glance" widget
Another notable new feature is the option to Remove the "At a Glance" widget of the main screen. This element, which displays information such as the weather, calendar events, or notifications, had been practically mandatory on many Pixels until now.
Google had already done limited testing on some builds of Android 16 QPR3, but with Android 17 Beta 1 the The possibility of removing it seems to be extending to more users.The process is simple: just press and hold the widget and select the option to remove it from the Pixel Launcher settings when the system allows it.
For those who don't take advantage of that module or prefer a cleaner desktop, this option offers an increase in flexibility in customizationIn combination with the new configurable search bar, the top area of ​​the home screen is no longer as cramped as in previous generations of Android on Pixel phones.
That doesn't mean "At a Glance" will disappear completely: many users value having that information readily available. The important thing is that now, at least during the beta, The presence of the widget is no longer mandatory. and becomes just another option within the launcher's settings.
Minor adjustments to volume, brightness, and everyday experience
Along with changes to the search bar and top widget, Android 17 Beta 1 introduces a number of minor interface tweaks Designed to make everyday use more comfortable. They aren't radical transformations, but rather details that add up in daily life.
On the volume panel, for example, a settings icon at the bottom which provides direct access to sound controls. This makes it easy to quickly adjust different levels (multimedia, calls, alarms, etc.) without having to navigate through multiple menus.
The has also been renewed brightness icon within Quick SettingsThis helps to better identify that control among the other access points. These are small visual changes, but they align with Google's intention to refine the experience without completely redesigning the familiar interface.
Taken together, these improvements reinforce the idea that the company is using Android 17 Beta 1 as testing ground for unifying behaviors between widgets, the search bar, and system settings. If the launcher bar is essentially the same as the Google widget, it's easier to deploy new shortcuts, try out search providers, or adapt the experience to the regulations of each region.
For those already testing the beta on a Pixel, the result is a more configurable home screen than in previous versionsThe main shortcut bar can now be adjusted, the search provider can be changed, and there's the option to omit the "At a Glance" widget if desired, all accompanied by minor tweaks to volume and brightness. It remains to be seen which changes will survive the testing phase, but the direction points to greater choice without disrupting the Pixel Launcher's recognizable aesthetic.
