Android 12 expected to enable universal search from third-party launchers

Android 12 expected to enable universal search from third-party launchers

Android 12 may bring an interesting function, that’s, a universal search from third-party launchers that promises to change the whole idea of how things are searched on the device.

Although such search has been initially reserved for Google’s widget and launcher but may be introduced into Android 12. 

Third-party launchers wouldn’t be able to do this using their list of apps at the moment. Taking Nova Launcher for instance. It cannot offer anything except entries from the apps you already have installed on your phone, even though it has universal search.

This information was shared via Twitter by the Niagara Launcher developers. Based on its documentation, the “AppSearchManager” API entry allows apps to activate “AppSearch” index, which may allow actions within the app.

Advanced search functions would be enabled. You may be wondering what that means?

Well, searching for specific things within Google Docs would be allowed. Also, searching for a particular photo in your gallery may be allowed.

Put differently, powerful search capabilities in any third-party launcher would be enabled.

At the very least, we’re expecting this change to make its way to the stable Android 12 build, considering that the company changed things. This change would be certainly welcomed. In August, the stable Android 12 is expected to drop and of course definitely going to be bang.