Pixel 11's new Pixel Search app could be coming to older Pixels

Last month, we discovered that it was possible to sideload the Pixel Search app and use it on older Pixels, as long as you are using a recent Android 17 QPR2 beta build. This allows users of older Pixels to experience the expanded search app that debuted with the Pixel 11 series. We have now spotted more clues that indicate that Google is indeed planning to officially expand the Pixel Search app to older Pixels, potentially going as far back as the Pixel 6 series.

We spotted the following code in the Pixel Search app v1.0.983036833:

The above-mentioned code refers to all Pixel devices launched since 2021, meaning the Pixel 6 and newer. This indicates that the app could become available to older Pixels with the stable Android 17 QPR2 release, expected sometime in December 2026.

There is a bit of a catch, though. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro reached their end-of-life status with the stable Android 17 QPR1 release. When Android 17 QPR2 betas rolled around, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro were no longer part of the beta program, as the stable Android 17 QPR2 release would arrive just after the promised five years of support.

While Google’s code does keep the door open for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro to get Pixel Search, from what we can see, the app requires a recent Android 17 QPR2 release to work. Either Google could drop this requirement for the app, or there could be a surprise update in store for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro (which is unlikely without an active beta program), or support could be limited to the Pixel 6a and newer.

If you’d like to try the app out, you can download Pixel Search from this link and sideload it on your older Pixel as long as you are on Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5 or newer.