Google is phasing out the old weather app experience in Android and redirecting users to a redesigned Google search results page instead. While the new interface still displays forecasts, air quality, and AI-generated summaries, it lacks the fast, authentic feel of the original full-screen weather display. This change leaves most Android users without a proper first-party weather app, unless they own a Pixel phone.
Google is removing the simple and straightforward way to check weather updates on Android phones and tablets. The Google Weather shortcut, which functioned as a lightweight, standalone app but was actually part of the Google Search app, is being phased out in favor of a new, web-only experience.
Google began redirecting users to a new weather interface in Google Search in November as part of an AP test. But Nine to Five Google reports that the Mountain View giant appears to have begun a broader rollout, effectively marking the end of the simple, no-frills weather experience Android users have relied on for years to check the weather.
Tapping the weather shortcut from the home screen now takes users to the Google Search weather results page, which displays forecast data with the familiar frog background card, complete with an AI weather summary, a standard 10-day forecast carousel, and drop-down menus for air quality, humidity, wind, and precipitation.
While the web-based interface still provides the same weather information and updates, the experience is no longer a standalone full-screen display. Instead, it behaves like a standard web results page, with additional links and search content appearing as you scroll. It feels like a notable step back in terms of overall user experience, especially considering that Google still doesn’t offer a native weather app for Android devices, even though the company does offer a weather app exclusively on Pixel phones.
The change hasn’t reached everyone yet, with many devices in the latest Search beta still offering the standard app view, but the end is clear. If Google is determined to kill off its best weather interface, now would be the perfect time to stop blocking apps and make the nifty Pixel Weather app available to all Android phones.
