Google usually brings changes to its Android system with each new version. The company is currently working on the latest Android 14 QPR 2 Beta 3 version. However, developers and tech enthusiasts are already digging into the system to find out what it will likely offer. According to Nail Sadykov Google has quietly relaxed the restrictions of Pixel Launcher search engine. He claims that the company is working on a hidden setting that can change the default search engine. If this is true, it means users can change the default search engine on their Android system to Microsoft’s Bing and other options.
This feature is still under development, and Google has not yet revealed a specific launch date. However, based on the name description and text string of the setting, users can customize the search engine. We can see in the screenshot below from Sadykov that the feature is in development. The screenshot below of the Android 14 QPR 2 Beta 3 version reads
“Select the app you’ll use to search the web. This will affect search and content on the home screen.”
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This means you can replace Google with other search engines, such as Bing and DuckDuckGo, as your source of online search results. However, any local search results will not be affected. Several developers claim that the mark seen in the Android version of the Google Chrome browser application may be related to the new search engine settings.
Possible reasons for the change
At the moment, many large companies are facing regulatory pressures in different parts of the world. Google is one of such brands and it has been accused of monopoly in the U.S. and Europe. The company is now likely doing all it can to satisfy the needs of regulatory agencies. Recall that some regulators have demanded that the default search engine on Android be made available to users. As a result, the new Pixel Launcher change may be a means for Google to comply with these various rules.
Final Words
Google is making efforts to loosen the restrictions in its Pixel Launcher search engine. This is a good thing because it will give users more options on the search engine they want to use. It also has other positives as it tackles some of the concerns by regulatory agencies in the U.S. and Europe. It is a good thing to see that large companies like Google are willing to make early changes due to regulatory concerns.
