C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
TL; PhD
- A few months ago, Google touted Android 12 will provide a complete device search function. There is now a fifth beta version.
- The search function can be accessed in the Pixel app drawer. It is not yet clear where it is located on other Android skins.
- Search queries can get results from the entire device, including contacts, settings, applications, files, etc.
On most Android phones today, there is a persistent Google search bar on the home screen. Using it, you can easily find all kinds of content on the entire network, just like you visit Google.com. However, it will not show you results from where you might want: the phone itself.
Google tells us that a complete device search engine will appear on Android 12 at some point. Now, with the fifth beta version launched today, we can finally see it.
You can also take a look: The complete history of Android
On Pixel phones with Android 12 beta 5, you can access the new search function in the app drawer. At the top of the drawer is a search bar that says “Search your phone and more” (see picture above). The results you will see from this location do not include network results, at least not by default.
It is not clear whether this also applies to Android skins, such as One UI or Oxygen OS. However, it is likely to be similar.
Here is how search works on devices in Android 12!
Search on Android 12 devices
Searching using the engine on the device is very intuitive. First, you enter a query. As you type, the results will pop up from your phone, including apps, files, settings, contacts, etc.
Check out the screenshot below of my search for “home”.
As you can see, the first thing it pulls up is the Google Home app, which makes sense. Next is one of my contacts with the word “home” in it. There are two quick links to the text of the contact or access to the full page.
Below, you can see the “Home” shortcut in Google Maps. Scroll further down and you will find Google Assistant routines with the word “home”, settings related to the word “home”, and more.
At the very bottom, there is a link to search on Google. This is useful if I want to use the search bar to search the web, but in the wrong location. Instead of going to the appropriate search bar, I can jump directly to Google.
If you don’t like how many results this includes, you can adjust them at any time. In Android settings, you can turn on or off the “Search your phone” page of the search result source.
Since this is the final Android 12 beta, we don’t expect much change in this feature between now and the stable release. I look forward to this new useful tool coming to your phone soon!