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

J

jazz53

Member
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
 
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 :)
 
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
 
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
Click to expand...
In order to remove it without changing your launcher is to root your device and uninstall the "Google" app.

Spunky168
"The Original Taepo Dong"
 
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?
 
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
 
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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.
 
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
 
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
 
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