Last updated: July 28th, 2026 at 07:49 UTC+02:00
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It gives you easier access to Google Search, right from your home screen.
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Daniel Scuteri / SamMobile
One UI 9 is not a major design overhaul compared to One UI 8.5, but it still brings several changes and additional features to Galaxy phones and tablets. One such feature is a built-in Google Search bar on the home screen, similar to the one found on Pixel phones.
On the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, you can add a persistent Google Search bar widget to the home screen. To enable it, open One UI Home launcher's Settings section, navigate to Show search on home screen, and enable the Search toggle. This adds a full-width Google Search bar just above the favorite apps dock. You no longer have to manually add the Google Search bar from the widget section.
Daniel Scuteri / SamMobile
Google Search widget on One UI 9.0 home screen – Source: Daniel Scuteri / SamMobile
Despite running One UI 9.0 Beta 4, our Galaxy S26 Ultra does not have this feature. This suggests that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra may be running a newer One UI 9.0 build than the one currently available in beta for the Galaxy S26 series.
It isn't clear if this feature is also available on the Galaxy Z Flip 8. Hopefully, all Galaxy devices running the stable version of One UI 9.0 will receive this Google Search bar option in the future.
First Samsung device: T100
Asif is a computer engineer turned technology journalist. He has been using Samsung phones since 2004, and his current smartphone is the Galaxy S23 Ultra. He loves headphones, mechanical keyboards, and PC hardware. When not writing about technology, he likes watching crime and science fiction movies and TV shows.
