Help How do you remove/disable the google voice(?) bar

jazz53 · Dec 15, 2014

I have a bunch of questions, but will post 1 at a time for better search results

How do you remove/disable the google voice(?) bar at the top of the screen?
Possibly called something else. It is the white bar with Google and a mic icon.
I do not want to root the phone as it is new.

TIA

Clementine_3 · Dec 15, 2014

You can install any number of different launchers and just not put the search bar/icon on. I use Nova (prime) but there are a bunch of other nice ones too. No root needed

jazz53 · Dec 15, 2014

So I have to change from stock launcher?

kate · Dec 15, 2014

jazz53 said:
So I have to change from stock launcher?

I remember in Android 2.3 you could simply remove it like an app icon, but not with KitKat. I believe the only way to remove it is using a different launcher.

Thom · Dec 15, 2014

Alternate launcher is the only way. I use Nova Launcher Prime and it is one of the reasons I do so. Some of the other reasons ... toggle the bar at the top of the screen off and on ... hide the pre-installed software so I don't have to see it ... save/restore the launcher setup so a Factory Data Reset is a much smaller impact.

... Thom

spunky168 · Dec 20, 2014

jazz53 said:
I have a bunch of questions, but will post 1 at a time for better search results

How do you remove/disable the google voice(?) bar at the top of the screen?
Possibly called something else. It is the white bar with Google and a mic icon.
I do not want to root the phone as it is new.

TIA

In order to remove it without changing your launcher is to root your device and uninstall the "Google" app.

Spunky168
"The Original Taepo Dong"

txaspeat · Dec 28, 2014

Can somebody explain what a launcher is/does?

Ive been wanting to remove the google search bar from homescreen too like ive done on other phones but couldnt find a way to do it. If I change launcher, will it be detrimental to the phone in any way?

also, if I change launcher, will the phone still be running kitkat?

Thom · Dec 28, 2014

I use Nova Launcher Prime on all myh phones. It will change thw way you think about your phoone.

Setup the home screens your way, save tyhe setup, restore thesetup to a different phone or the same phone after doing a Factory Data Reset.
Hide the preinstalled apps you hate without root-ing.
Get rid of the google search.
Toggle the bar at the top of the home screenon and off.
Install the free version ... try it out ... switch between it and the stock laun aher at will.

I higly recommend Nova Launchner Prime (the paid persion).

... Thom

kate · Dec 28, 2014

txaspeat said:
If I change launcher, will it be detrimental to the phone in any way?

No, plus you can revert back to your current launcher if you want

txaspeat said:
also, if I change launcher, will the phone still be running kitkat?

Yes.

Mr. Lucky · Dec 28, 2014

There is no downside to running an alternate launcher that I am aware of. Also, some launchers are capable of importing the settings from your previous launcher, so setup time is literally just minutes. Nova can do Import; I don't remember if Apex can, though it does give you many options to the Google Search bar beyond just removing it.

Thom · Dec 28, 2014

Only downside ... on the Droid Maxx the Droid Command Center widget(AKA Circles widget) will only run under the stock launcher. This may be true for some other models also. It is not a problem on the Droid Turbo. (Assuming you care about that widget.)

... Thom

timelord65 · Jan 1, 2015

Some widgets only work on the stock browser. So you may loose some touchwiz, or sense widgets but thats about the only downside to alternate browsers

Help How do you remove/disable the google voice(?) bar

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