The choice screens
Your Android, your choice
Updated March 29, 2024
About the choice screen
Following the European Commission’s July 2018 Android decision, Google introduced a promotional opportunity for search apps and browsers in Google Play and, subsequently, a choice screen requiring Android smartphone and tablet users to choose a default search provider during initial device setup.
On September 6, 2023, the European Commission announced that Google has been designated as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a new piece of legislation designed to harmonize platform regulation across the EU and ensure fair and open digital markets. Beginning in March 2024, Google will make the following changes to comply with its DMA obligations requiring it to show choice screens: (i) introduce a new browser choice screen during initial device setup in addition to a search choice screen on Android smartphones and tablets; and (ii) show a search choice screen on Chrome on non-Android platforms. An illustrative version of the choice screen follows. Providers may vary by country.
Search choice screen
The user is required to choose one search provider from the choice screen during setup. The effect of a user selecting a search provider from the choice screen is to (i) set the search provider in a home screen search box to the selected provider, (ii) set the default search provider in Chrome (if installed) to the selected provider, and (iii) install the search app of the selected provider (if not already installed).
Browser choice screen
The user is required to choose a default browser provider from the choice screen during setup. The effect of a user selecting a browser from the choice screen is to install the browser app of the selected provider (if not already installed) and to set the default browser to be used when a user opens links from other apps.
User Experience
During the setup of a new Android device, an introductory dialog will appear, followed by the browser choice screen and then the search choice screen. The choice screen includes the following features:- Users are required to scroll through the entire list before making their selection.
- A selection must be made to continue; skipping is not an option.
- Third-party browser and search engine apps will be downloaded automatically upon selection.
- The browser choice screen will not appear if the default browser is set to a third party browser.
- In an upcoming update, the list of options will be fully randomized
- In an upcoming update, the first line of the text description will be visible by default. The full text description is shown when user taps the chevron.
Roll-out plans
The browser and search choice screens were made available to all eligible Pixel users in the EEA through a software update in early March 2024.
Starting March 6, Android OEMs are required to incorporate the DMA choice screen software into all new device releases distributed in the EEA. Users should expect to see the DMA choice screen on new Android OEM devices in the coming months as OEMs incorporate the new software into their manufacturing and release these new devices through their distribution supply chains. We will continue to encourage OEMs to make the choice screen available on their existing devices in European users’ hands.
Beyond the search and browser choice screens in Android, Google will also show a search choice screen in Chrome on all other operating systems through a Chrome app update currently targeted for release in April.
For information on choice screens shown in Chrome for non-Android devices, please visit chrome.com/choicescreen.