Restore google search bar to home screen

This tutorial will show you step by step how to get the Google search bar back on the home screen on a Samsung phone.

Table of Contents Show

How to put the Google search bar back on the home screen on a Samsung phone
How to put the Google search bar back on the home screen on a Samsung phone
Internet Explorer
1. Restore Google Search Widget
2. Install Google
3. Use Google Assistant
4. Browser Search Widget
5. Different Search Engine
Search Anything, Anytime, Anywhere

The steps on this page work for all Samsung phones with Android 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.

On this page, you'll find two methods. The first method is for Samsung phones with Android version 10 or lower. The second method is for Samsung phones with version 11 of the Android mobile operating system.

How to put the Google search bar back on the home screen on a Samsung phone

1. Make sure there's enough space for the Google search bar on your phone's home screen.

2. Long press (tap and hold) on an empty space on your phone's home screen until you see the Widgets option.

3. Tap on Widgets.

4. Find the Google widget and tap on it.

5. Long press (tap and hold) on the Google search bar.

6. Drag the search bar to where you want it to appear on the home screen.

7. Tap on an empty space on the home screen.

The Google search bar is now back on the home screen.

How to put the Google search bar back on the home screen on a Samsung phone

1. Make sure there's enough space for the Google search bar on your phone's home screen.

2. Long press (tap and hold) on an empty space on your phone's home screen until you see the Widgets option.

3. Tap on Widgets.

4. Find the Google widget and tap on it.

5. Swipe to find the Google search bar widget.

6. Tap on Add.

The Google search bar is now back on the home screen.

Firefox

If you use Firefox, resetting the search bar to Google is simple. Click the small arrow in the search bar to display the available search engine, and then select Google from the list.

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer doesn't include a separate search bar in its interface, but if you were using the Google Toolbar and it disappeared, you can often get it back by right-clicking the toolbar area and checking the box next to Google Toolbar. If you don't see the option, download and install it again from the Google website (link in Resources).

Chrome

Chrome also doesn't use a separate search bar, and instead allows searches directly from the address bar. If Google is no longer your default search engine in Chrome, select the Settings option from the Chrome menu, and then change the default search engine to Google in the Search section of the page.

Google is still the king of search engines. While Bing has improved by leaps and bounds, most users still prefer Google Search. Hence, it can be discomforting when the Google Search bar widget goes missing on the Android home screen.

Most probably, the Google Search widget has been deleted or removed from your Android phone’s home screen. That’s easy to fix, and there are other ways to add a Google search widget to the home screen or access Google Search features.

Let’s begin.

There are so many reasons why the Google Search widget can go missing on Android phone’s home screen. Accidental deletion, changing the theme, switching to a new launcher, or even a bug. Most launchers support this method, but yours may be a rare case.

Step 1: Long-press on the home screen and select Add widgets. You will view a list of widgets available for the installed apps. Scroll a little to find the Google Search widget.

Step 2: Tap and hold the Search widget size of your choice and move it around to place it on the home screen. Google Search widget is available in more than one size and form.

It is easy to reposition the Google Search widget later too. Again, tap and hold to move or resize it. You can do the same with the other widgets.

2. Install Google

Another way to fix the issue is to install the official Google app that’s available on the Play Store. You can fetch the latest version from the Google Play Store. You can use the Google app to not only search the web but also read customized news stories, Collections where you can find your favorite places, movies, and pages, and a snapshot of your daily schedule taken from Google Calendar.

It comes with some useful widgets for your home screen like Sound Search to recognize songs, Snapshot, and Search. Adding widgets is easy, as we saw above already.

Download Google

3. Use Google Assistant

Google Assistant is to Android what Siri is to iOS. The AI-powered smart virtual assistant can manage your phone, complete several tasks, and answer all sorts of questions. You can also create routines that will perform a series of tasks that you can pre-program to run at a particular time.

You can activate Google Assistant and use text or voice to search Google easily. It won’t even take up space on the home screen as you can use gestures to summon the smart AI. Setting up gestures will depend on the Android launcher you use.

Download Google Assistant

All popular browsers support the Google Search engine. There are other options available, but Google remains the king and every major browser supports it right out of the box. So, which browser are you using as your daily driver?

Mobile browser apps also offer widgets that you can place on the home screen. Once you set the default search engine, you can use the widget to search the web directly from the home screen. Tapping on the widget will open a search bar, and search results will open in the browser app itself.

5. Different Search Engine

One of the few popular search engine is DuckDuckGo. These alternative search engines are also supported by all popular browsers so there is no need to worry. They are also available on multiple platforms including desktops and smartphones. That said, you may take some time getting acquainted with them.

Before you switch to a different search engine, make sure you remember that other search engine options offer different experience and links compared to Google Search.

Search Anything, Anytime, Anywhere

There is no doubt that Google is leading the race. You can use Google Search on other devices, but that’s not a solution. You want to search the web on your Android phone, and you want to do it now. As discussed, there are other ways to summon the Google God. Opening a new browser tab and visiting Google.com should also work. While not intuitive, the information Google offers is still worth a few extra taps.

We won’t recommend formating the smartphone for such a trivial issue. One of the fixes mentioned above should work and there are plenty of ways to access Google Search. If you found another way, share the same with us in the comments section below.

Next up: Like DuckDuckGo? Want to add it to your Chrome browser on Android as your default search engine? Click on the link below to learn how now.