Google Unveils 'In Apps' Search for Android, Shows Content From Installed Apps

Google has introduced a new search mode dubbed 'In Apps' where it will show content from installed apps on the Android device. The company has long offered the ability to search for content present on your device, and with recent iterations of the Google app for Android, users should already see a "Phone" tab to filter their search results. The new In Apps mode is an upgrade, with wider app integrations, and also works offline.

The new 'In Apps' search mode will be available via the new Google app on Android devices, and users need to look for the In Apps tab in results. The search engine giant also confirmed that the LG V20 will be the world's first smartphone to sport a dedicated shortcut for the 'In Apps' feature on both the home screen and Second Screen. Users will be also able to search the preinstalled LG apps via the new search mode on the LG V20. Notably, the LG V20 will be also the first new smartphone in the world that will run the Android 7.0 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box.Google believes that the new search mode will be handy for Android users to "find exactly what they are looking for." The new search mode will at launch work with Gmail, Spotify, and YouTube though Google has plans to expand the number of apps. "In the coming months, we'll also be adding more apps, including Facebook Messenger, LinkedIn, Evernote, Glide, Todoist and Google Keep," writes Timo Mertens, Product Manager, Google in a blog post.

Some of the use cases of the new 'In Apps' search mode are for finding contacts and messages by just typing the name of a friend or a place someone suggested. You can also search for a song by just typing the lyrics, any long-lost email, or a to-do list and the new search mode will surface the content from the relevant app.

The biggest highlight of the feature is it works offline, as the search happens entirely on the Android device. Users can change the apps that appear in results by going to Settings within the Google app. The updated Google app for Android should be rolling out gradually globally, and has not yet reached Google Play India.