Help Remove awful Google search bar?

[MEC2]

Now that ICS is out, task one has to be getting rid of the search bar that is clinging to the top of the home page like a bat. I see no apparent way to remove it, and I'd just as soon have my home page back without Google permanently claiming space on my desktop.

 

[dreahdreah]

I ended up downloading Nova launcher on my son's phone, that way we could choose if we wanted the bar or not.

 

[kingp]

Now that ICS is out, task one has to be getting rid of the search bar that is clinging to the top of the home page like a bat. I see no apparent way to remove it, and I'd just as soon have my home page back without Google permanently claiming space on my desktop.

It's part of the ICS interface now. The only way to get rid of it is to install an alternative launcher like GoLauncher or (if it even works) LauncherPro. I would not recommend buying Launcher Pro because the dev hasn't released an update to it in almost a year, plus I'm not even sure that it works with Ice Cream Sandwich.

 

[fareal]

GO Launcher works great on ICS

 

[ecox]

Settings...Apps...All (the tab is off the screen to the right, swipe to see it)...Google Search...Disable. Poof, it's gone.

 

[sbbamafan]

I use ADW launcher. I havent seen much written about it but I like it. Why do people generally prefer others?

 

[Copenhagen69]

Settings...Apps...All (the tab is off the screen to the right, swipe to see it)...Google Search...Disable. Poof, it's gone.

I did that, it disabled it but did not get rid of it ...

 

[MEC2]

I did that, it disabled it but did not get rid of it ...

Force Stop it.

Thanks for the tip, I actually found it out yesterday when I disabled Google Wallet and Google Maps (so sick of those constantly running), I decided to dump Search and voila, it's gone. Can't reclaim the space but less running junk = better.

 

[Copenhagen69]

does force stopping it only work until you reset your phone and then you need to force stop everything again or what?

 

[Timanator]

it comes back when you run any type of voice search(Like in navigation). And you cant claim that space, booo.

 

[hi-tech34]

it comes back when you run any type of voice search(Like in navigation). And you cant claim that space, booo.

I can't get it back now. I first disabled an android search app and then found the google app and disables that too and now I can't get either one back??
Does anyone know how to get them back?

 

[lefty27]

I use ADW launcher. I havent seen much written about it but I like it. Why do people generally prefer others?

Go launcher you customize way more than ADW and it's basicly a better ics. With this new update seems that there is some go launcher things in here, maybe its just me.

 

[keyosuke]

KUN1 found the solution to this and the quote is " Just go to settings--> Homescreen-->Actionbar Design--> Disable" and the post where he originally typed this was at (see next post) . I'm not sure this will work on all flavors of Android, but it's working on the ICS hybrid rom I'm using, so maybe it will help anyone who surfs to this thread.

 

[keyosuke]

The link from the last post in this thread by me was supposed to be http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=33799168
.

I'm only citing the link to give due credit to the guy I got my information from. It's not an advertisement.

 

[new optimus]

If you root the phone you can remove that by removing google velvet in /system/app

short of that there is no way in the stock rom to permantly remove that stupid google search bar.

one reason I like cm 10.1 there is a setting to uncheck and its gone, yet if you do want to use google search its still available. unlike if you disable or remove it.

 

[MadalinX]

KUN1 found the solution to this and the quote is " Just go to settings--> Homescreen-->Actionbar Design--> Disable" and the post where he originally typed this was at (see next post) . I'm not sure this will work on all flavors of Android, but it's working on the ICS hybrid rom I'm using, so maybe it will help anyone who surfs to this thread.

WORKED!

Thanks!!

 

[InducedChaos]

Install another launcher? Is that your advice? Those are usually the know it all, quick solutions "wise" kids, and when I pick up your phone it lags 30 seconds between the app layer and android system. Lol...My HTC desire HD boots in 10 seconds oh and the Google search bar? History you need to flash a custom Rom or leave your phone the way it is.

And the end result

 

[InducedChaos]

Lol and if you ask me how l took the screen shots from my phone, replace your android with a Walky Talky.

 

[primetech]

Holy wow. I just had to chime in before 2014 ended that using a third party launcher is a totally valid way to remove the Google Search crap that gets pre-installed on android devices now.

What I would not recommend to a newbie, or even most regular users, is installing a ROM (read: voiding the warranty) because some nincompoop on the Internet told you it was a good idea. And I would have assumed that since we have established the problem is easily fixable, I'd also advise anybody reading this in the future to not just ignore the problem either. Whichever nitwit actually assumed the Google launcher is always fastest probably hasn't tried any of the most recent ones. Shop around, this is Android not Apple for goodness sake. We can shop around instead of just buying the rhetoric.

I'ma archive this last guy's replies for, umm, archival purposes. Gloat for a while that my crappy OEM skin never came with a search bar, maybe?