Google hasn't abandoned its long Search bar experiment yet

The Google Search homepage is one of the most familiar sights on the internet. Its clean, minimalist design, centered around the search bar, has been a constant for years. But Google, never one to stand still, appears to be continuing an experiment that subtly changes this iconic element. We recently noticed that the Google Search bar suddenly expanded its width far beyond the usual.

Here’s a screenshot of the experimental long search bar compared to the regular search bar:

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this. Reports of a wider search bar surfaced back in July 2024. At the time, users noticed the query box stretching further across the top of the results page. Alongside the increased length, some variations included a distinct grey background for the bar, making it stand out more against the white page. While it caused a bit of discussion then, like many Google tests, it wasn’t clear if it would stick.

Fast forward to April 2025, and the elongated bar is making appearances again. A member of our team recently spotted the longer bar, complete with the grey background fill, popping up in their search results. However, replicating this experience proves tricky. I tried different browsers and logging in and out of my Google account but couldn’t see the test variant. This selective visibility is typical of Google’s A/B testing approach, where changes are rolled out to a small subset of users to gather data before any widespread launch.

Why the longer bar? Google has previously mentioned that search queries are becoming more conversational and complex, often involving more words than before. A longer search bar could simply be a practical adjustment to accommodate these evolving user habits, making it easier to type and view lengthy questions or phrases. The different visual styles, like the gray background, are likely part of testing user reactions to various aesthetics.

For now, the familiar, shorter search bar remains the standard for most. But the continued sightings indicate Google is still actively exploring this design tweak. Whether the longer, sometimes gray, search bar will become the new normal remains to be seen.