TL;DR
- DuckDuckGo has called out Samsung for baking Google’s search bar into the One UI 9 home screen, even for users who prefer other search engines.
- The change builds on Android 17’s revamped search experience, which Motorola also offers on its home screen search bar.
- Samsung users can remove the search bar through Home screen settings, although some haven’t realized the option exists.
Google has plenty of ways to get you searching, but DuckDuckGo isn’t thrilled to see its rival claim another piece of Android real estate. This time, Samsung is caught in the crossfire, where a One UI 9 change puts Google Search front and center, even on phones whose owners prefer DuckDuckGo.
The privacy-focused search engine took to X to criticize the change, accusing Google of hardwiring its search bar into Samsung’s home screen. Unlike a conventional widget, you can’t long-press, move, or drag the new bar away. That makes it look like Google has secured a permanent spot on your phone, regardless of your search preferences.