Google officially began retiring the classic “full-screen” Weather experience on Android, a transition that is currently accelerating for users worldwide.
While technically an extension of the Google app rather than a standalone program, the “Froggy” weather shortcut—beloved for its clean interface and iconic weather mascot—is being replaced by a more unified Search-based integration.
What is Changing?
The transition effectively replaces a dedicated “app-like” UI with a dynamic search results page.
- The Redirection: When you tap your existing Weather home screen shortcut, you are now redirected to a Google Search results page for “weather” instead of the old distraction-free interface.
- The “Froggy” Mascot: While the illustrated frog still appears, he has been relegated to a smaller card within the search results rather than dominating a full-screen background.
- Notification: Many users are receiving a message stating: “The weather page has moved. Your home screen shortcut now leads to Google Search.”
New vs. Old: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Classic Weather “App” | New Search Interface (Feb 2026) |
| Interface | Clean, full-screen, ad-free. | Integrated with search; includes web links and ads. |
| Information | Standard forecast, humidity, UV, etc. | Adds AI-generated summaries and Air Quality (AQI). |
| Navigation | Simple swipe-based navigation. | Uses drop-down menus and carousels. |
| Pixel Exclusive | No (Available to all Android users). | Pixel users keep the superior “Pixel Weather” app. |
Why the Change?
Industry analysts suggest Google is consolidating its services for two main reasons:
- Maintenance: Google presumably no longer wants to maintain two separate codebases (the “app” view vs. the Search view) for weather.
- Ad Integration: The Search-based view allows Google to show relevant ads and web links as you scroll down, which was absent from the original “mini-app” experience.
Who is Affected?
- Non-Pixel Android Users: This change primarily targets users with Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and other Android devices who relied on the Google app for weather.
- Pixel Owners: If you own a Pixel 9 or newer, you are unaffected. Your dedicated Pixel Weather app (the one with AI-generated reports) will remain your default experience.
