Add Google Search shortcuts to your iOS Lock Screen, Control Center & Action Button

You can access your favorite Google app features like AI Mode, Lens, and Voice Search without searching for the app icon. To search with a single tap, add the Google app widget to your iPhone's Lock Screen, Control Center, or Action Button.

Important: Access to AI Mode in Google Search may not be available in your region. Learn more about AI-powered responses with AI Mode in Google Search.

Add Google widgets to your Lock Screen

Important: To use Lock Screen widgets, iOS 16 and up is required.

With Lock Screen widgets, you can launch Google features directly from your iPhone’s Lock Screen.

1. Unlock your iPhone.
   • Make sure your face or passcode unlocks your phone, while you stay on the Lock Screen.
2. On your iPhone, touch and hold the Lock Screen until the “Customize" button appears.
3. Tap Customize Lock Screen.
4. Below the time, tap Add Widgets.
5. In the widget gallery, scroll and tap Google.
6. Swipe left or right to find the available widgets, like:
   • Search
   • Lens
   • Voice Search
7. To add the widget to your Lock screen, tap or drag the widget.
   • If you don’t have free space available on your Lock Screen, you need to remove an existing shortcut for your chosen Google shortcuts.
8. To save the changes, at the top right, tap Close Done.

Replace Lock Screen shortcuts with Google widgets

Important: To replace Lock Screen shortcuts, iOS 18 and up is required.

At the bottom of your Lock Screen, you can replace the default Flashlight and Camera icons with Google app features like Lens or Voice Search.

1. Unlock your iPhone.
   • Make sure your face or passcode unlocks your phone, but stay on the Lock Screen.
2. To enter Customization mode, touch and hold the Lock screen until the “Customize” button appears.
3. To select the Lock screen, tap Customize.
4. To remove the existing shortcut, in the corner of the shortcut you want to remove like the Flashlight or Camera, tap Minus .
5. To add Google Action:
   • In the now-empty circle, tap Plus .
   • Scroll to find the Google app or search for "Google."
   • Select the specific action you want, like:
     • Google Lens
     • Voice Search
     • Incognito
6. To save changes, at the top right, tap Done.

Add Google to your Control Center

Important: To add Google app shortcuts to your Control Center, iOS 18 and up is required.

You can add Google app shortcuts to your Control Center for quick access while you use any app.

1. To open the Control Center, swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen.
2. To enter Customization mode, at the top left, tap Plus .
3. At the bottom, tap Add a Control.
4. In the search bar, enter Google.
   • Or, scroll to find the Google app.
5. Select the specific action you want to add, like:
   • AI Mode
   • Google Lens
6. To save your layout, tap anywhere on the background.

Assign Google to the Action Button

Important: This feature works only on iPhone 15 Pro and up.

If you have an iPhone with an Action Button, you can set it to open a specific Google feature instantly.

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings.
2. Tap Action Button.
3. Scroll to the Shortcut option.
4. Tap Choose a Shortcut.
5. In the search bar, enter Google.
   • Or, scroll to find the Google app.
6. Select your preferred action, like:
   • Google Lens
   • Voice Search
7. To use the Action Button, touch and hold the Action Button on the side of your iPhone to trigger the Google feature.