Search Engine Roundtable reported on October 15, 2026 that Google is testing a redesigned search bar in the Google mobile app.
What was reported
- The bar shows a ”+” button and the label “Ask Google” instead of “Search”.
- It is white instead of gray, and thinner and placed higher on the screen.
- The change was first spotted by a user, Akshay Gangwar. Search Engine Roundtable’s author said he could not see it himself, which suggests a limited test.
- Beebom reports it in Google app version 17.65.17 and says it seems to be rolling out widely. It also reports that the “Nano Banana” toggle was renamed “Create” and “Search Live” was renamed “Talk”.
Google often rolls out interface changes in stages, so the change may appear for different people at different times. We did not find a Google announcement.
What it could signal
The label “Ask Google” frames the box as a place to ask questions, not only to type keywords. That fits Google’s wider push toward AI Mode and conversational answers, but the reports do not say how the change affects the results people see, and nobody has published data on it yet.
What to do
- Do not change your pages because of a test. Nothing here is a ranking or content requirement.
- Watch your queries over time. In Search Console, look for a trend toward longer, question-style searches, which would suit pages that answer one question clearly.
- Keep answers easy to find. A direct answer near the top of the page helps readers and AI answer features alike. See our practical checklist.
We will update this article if Google confirms the change.
