Tech Desk
Sep 17, 2024
Google has revamped the Search widget on the iPhone and iPad, allowing users to add customisable shortcut buttons for Gemini on the bottom of the widget.
Previously, the search giant offered the Medium widget that allowed a pill-shaped search bar and shortcuts for Lens, Voice Search, and Incognito.
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Here's how customisable Search widget on iOS works
With the updated Search widget, if users long-press the home screen and tap the "Edit" button in the top left corner, they'll see three options, including "Add Widget," "Customise," and "Edit Pages."
By tapping on "Add Widget," users can navigate to Google and will see a small and a medium widget for Search.
However, alongside these three options, the Search widget also lets users choose any feature they want for the fourth shortcut from options including;
- Activity
- Gemini
- Homework
- Incognito mode
- Lens
- Screenshots
- Song Search
- Translate
- Translate-Camera
- Translate-Voice
- Voice Search
Once you’ve made the selection, users can change it or even customise all four buttons by opening the Google app and opt for any of the widget's background themes listed below.
- System default
- Light
- Dark
- Earth
- Abstract art
- Solid colors
It’s important to note that this customisation feature is only available on the medium Google Search widget while the small Search widget includes two shortcuts for voice search and Google Lens.
Google is also working to add a similar feature to the Android Google Search widget that users can place on their home screens but might only get one shortcut next to the Voice Search and Lens.
