Rarely do we see app updates that introduce minor changes that end up making a big impact, but today’s update for the Google App and its Google Search widget on Android may be an exception. The update allows you to customize the Search widget with new shortcuts to a variety of items that could be useful based on your preferences.
The update, marked as version 16.3.34 in the stable channel and 16.4.35 in the beta channel, includes a new "Shortcuts" section in the settings page of the Google Search widget. This section offers 9 shortcuts that can be added to the Search bar for quick access to various tasks.
If you choose to add a shortcut, it will appear next to the voice and Lens icons in the Google Search widget. To access this feature, add the Search widget to your home screen, long-press on it, and then access the settings or edit button. If you don’t see the Shortcuts section, try doing a force stop on the Google App in settings.
The available shortcuts include options for Song Search, Weather, Sports, Finance, and more. Each shortcut will launch a search query in Google Search. This feature allows for quick access to information without much effort.
It’s important to note that this feature is specific to the Google Search widget from the Google App, not the Google Search bar found at the bottom of the home screen on Pixel phones. The widget starts as a 4×1 size when added to a home screen but can be resized accordingly.
If you’re having trouble finding this feature, let us know.