Google app tests new Search widget customisation shortcut on Android – Times of India

Google may soon add some direct customisation options for the Search widget on Android. The company allowed users to personalise the Search widget for the first time in 2018. Now, the new changes will help users with Android 12 to customise the widget directly from the home screen. However, these new changes will apply only to the Search widget that can be manually placed on the home screen. These new changes don’t concern the Pixel Launcher which usually remains at the bottom of the home screen.
Google Search widget new customisation options: Availability
The direct customisation options for the Search widget have appeared with version 13.40 of the Google app, reports 9to5Google. This version of the Google app is still in its beta phase. As mentioned above, these new widget customisation options will apply to non-Google devices as Pixel devices have the Pixel Launcher bar.

Google Search widget: Customisation options coming to the home screen
Previously, the company allowed users to access these customisation options from the Settings menu of the Google app. Now, Android users (except Pixel owners) will be able to make these changes directly from their home screen.
Pressing and holding the Search widget on the home screen allows users to move it on the screen according to their preferences. With the new version of the Google app, users will be able to see the edit pencil in the bottom-right corner while moving the Search widget. Clicking on it will open the “Customize” page directly from the home screen that will offer four options to adjust – the bar logo, shape, colour and shading.
The bar logo option allows users to choose between two options — the multi-coloured “G” symbol or the “Google” logo (with full name) which appears in front of the Search bar. The bar shape options also allow users to choose between the rectangle or the pill shape of the widget.

Meanwhile, the bar colour and shading options allow users to choose different colours for the widget and to make the bar either see-through or solid. Users are also offered a live preview of their adjustments to see how it will look with their background wallpaper and a “Save” button will also appear in the corner for users to save the changes.
Moreover, users can also choose to go back to the default style with the “Reset to Default Style” shortcut that will also appear at the bottom.