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18 Comments

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joris

Thanks! This was actually the only way I found that I could remove the google bar on Lollipop on a moto G 2014 LTE

STW

This method didn't work for my marshmallow. I was stuck at the 4 dots upon reboot. For those with the same problem , while your device is stuck at the 4 dots upon reboot, just call your device phone number. Once the call screen pops up, just cancel and your main screen will show up. Go back and reenable your google app. I don't know of a method that will work to remove the search bar but this method didn't work on mine.

Uma

any other way to restore STW? looks like I'm stuck with the 4 dots upon reboot and no help in sight. mine is a nexus 7 so no phone call possible. 😢

Uma

OK, fixed it. The only way out is to go into recovery mode - after switching off your device running on marshmallow, press power button, volume up button, volume down button, all together. Next, select recovery mode by pressing volume down button til you see the recovery mode option and press the power button to select it. Next, the android 'dead' icon shows up on screen. Now keeping power button, press volume up button once and release. From among the options that show up now, select wipe cache partition by pressing power button. Next, do a wipe data/factory reset (I know, you lose ALL your data, but that's the only way to fix this). Select reboot option and you should be fine. I was crazy to do this pathetic Google app disabling suggested on this page. A better way to remove that Google search bar is to just use another launcher.Never again. Peace.

stíobhart

Did you also update to 6,0,1, after applying this tweak?

I've added a caution about this at the top of the post. It seems there's a problem with the 6,0,1 Marshmallow update which can cause a bootloop for some people. One theory is that this can be triggered if you have disabled any of the built-in Google apps.

This has only come to light with the Marshmallow update [The post was written over a month ago, when 6,0 was the only version of Marshmallow].

stíobhart

Assuming your problem was caused by an update to 6,0,1 [as per my previous comment], it would have been possible to do a dirty flash back to 6,0 by just flashing the system.img and wiping caches. That way you wouldn't have lost any data.

Uma

no worries. it's all good learning, stiobhart. i was on 6.0.1 earlier and i continue to be on 6.0.1., albeit without data. none of the other methods worked. the only thing that eventually worked is what i documented above. all the best.

Emms

Disable isn't a selectable option on my Nexus 6 running 6.0.1. I can only force stop.

stíobhart

Yes. The option has done from my HTC One M8 too, since the last update. I think Google are trying to make it as difficult as possible for folks to do this now –the original article was written a couple of months ago, when Marshmallow was first released.

I've added a warning at the top of the post and I DO NOT recommend people try this, unless you know your way round dirty flashing the system ROM, if things go wrong.

Nexus 5

I don't know why but I didn't read the caution number 2 before applying the steps. I think it was because the font color is not red for the 2nd caution. I have applied the steps on my Nexus 5 - Android 6.0.1 and this has ruined my phone. It was stuck in the loading screen. I saw your advice about “dirty flashing” the system.img from the stock ROM but I couldn't find how to do it. I didn't have time and I had to factory reset the phone. I lost all my data and I lost hours of time. If you have Nexus 5 with 6.0.1 be aware that it will break your phone.

Different

this is frustrating, I cannot force stop it!!!

Vladimir Popov

uninstall updates on it, then force stop

Ittay1

How's that done?

Paul.A.

I dont have an app simply called Google on marshmallow

carl6352

Did what he said the bars still there and now Google has stopped working and my nemesis the bar is still there! Lol

manda

Thank you! That worked perfectly!

Nick Laer

Moto Play X owner here. So I uninstalled the "Google App" updates, then I hit DISABLE on "Google App" and now it says, "Could not start Home" when I went back to see if the Google App Bar is still at the top of the Home Screen. Well I am about to reboot now LAWL Ill let you all know how that goes. In 3...2...1...(prays hard)....AND...taking a really long time here, like minutes. Getting worried now...more....w o r r i e d.....ya it won't load the home screen now without Google App. *cries*

Sreerag

Do not follow all what is mentioned here for Android marshmallow. Do it the "legal" way. Please click on the empty space on the screen. Next click on customize option at the bottom-> Click on none. It should work.

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