Most Android phones come with the Google search widget pre-installed on the home screen, while iPhone users can add the widget by installing the Google app. Typically, it includes shortcuts for Voice Search and Lens. A recent Google app update takes it to the next level. Now you can add custom shortcuts for a more personalized experience. Here’s how to unlock this new feature.
Good to know: if you want a break from your usual search engine, check these Google search alternatives that are worth trying.
Add the Google Search Widget on Your Home Screen
In case your phone doesn’t come with the Google Search widget pre-added, here’s how to get on your home screen.
On Android, long press on the home screen and select Widgets at the bottom or in the pop-up.
Find the Google section and select the standard search widget from there.
Long press it and drag it to your home screen. Arrange it in the position that you want.
If you have an iPhone, long press on the display until the icons start shaking. Tap on Edit in the upper left corner of the display and select Add Widget.
Find Google in the list of widgets and tap it. There are two search widget options available, but the first one is not customizable. You’ll need to opt for the second one which has a shortcut icon for accessing Incognito mode. Tap Add widget to place it on your home screen.
Tip: check these iPhone widgets you should definitely try out.
Add Shortcuts to Your Google Search Widget
Once you’ve added your widget, you can now customize its shortcuts. On Android, open the Google app.
Press on your profile picture in the upper right corner and select Settings.
Go to Customize Search widget.
Tap on the plus button next to Shortcuts.
Check the options available and pick the one you need. These are the available shortcuts:
- Translate (text) – opens up a Google Translate box in search.
- Song Search – allows you to identify songs that are playing in your environment
- Weather – takes you to the Google Weather page
- Translate (camera) – opens up Google Lens in translate mode using camera
- Sports – opens up the Sports page in Google search
- Dictionary – allows you to quickly search for a term via search
- Homework – opens up Google Lens in homework mode
- Finance – takes you to your Finance page where you can track investments and more
- Saved – allows you to easily access your saved collections (can include links and images)
- News – quickly displays the latest news for you.
Note: you can add only one additional shortcut to your Google search widgets. In addition, you can’t customize the other two.
On iPhone, you can’t customize the smaller widget, only the larger one. Go to your phone’s screen and press the + button next to the last shortcut.
On the next screen, you can select a shortcut for each button, even replacing the default ones.
On iOS, there are a few extra shortcuts available, including:
- Activity – takes you to your open tabs in the Google app
- Incognito – launches an Incognito mode window in Google app
- Screenshots – opens Google Lens in Search mode with gallery access available.
If you want to edit your search widget one more time, you’ll need to use the Google app and go to Settings -> Search widget.
FYI: recently switched to a Google phone? Check out these unique Pixel features to get familiar with ASAP.
Add Shortcuts to Google Search Widget For Pixel Phone
Adding custom shortcuts to your Google Search widget on a Pixel is a bit trickier. That’s because the phone’s Pixel launcher does not allow you to modify or customize its default search widget. Adding a shortcut through the Google app does nothing to the search widget. So what are Pixel users supposed to do?
You can add another widget, as we showed you above. Add the shortcut you want via the Google app and it will become visible in this second iteration.
However, the Pixel launcher won’t allow you to remove the default search widget. In this case, you have two options. The first one is to add the second widget on another of your home screens.
Alternatively, you can install a third-party launcher and customize the Google search widget according to your preference. For instance, we used the Nova Launcher for this. (Another alternative we tried was the Pixel launcher, but it was unfortunately recently removed from the Google Play Store.)
Launch the Nova Launcher and you’ll see that the Google search widget has been replaced with a different search one. If you like the look of it, you can keep it and add some additional shortcuts (on top of the default Voice search). Long press on the search bar and select Widget settings.
Change the logo to the G(oogle) one and then add your shortcuts, or Additional Actions as they are called here.
Also enable the option to Directly use Google app at the bottom, so pressing on the search bar will open Google.
This is how it looks with Nova Launcher’s default search widget.
On the other hand, if you wish to take advantage of the classic Google search widget complete with Google’s shortcuts, long press on the search bar and select Replace.
Select the widget and tap Create in the pop-up window.
If you added a custom shortcut to the Google search widget via the Google app it will now be visible on your home screen.
If you’re looking for more suggestions for widgets you can use on your phone, check our post on best Android widgets to make your home screen better. Alternatively, check our suggestions for iPhone lock screen widgets.
