Use the Google bar

You can use the Google bar to get to the Google apps you use most, receive app notifications, and manage your Google account. 

Ways to use the Google Bar

Switch between apps

To switch between Google apps:

  1. On the upper right, select Google apps Apps.
  2. Choose the app you'd like to use.

Note: If you don't see what you want in the menu, select More.

View, dismiss, and manage notifications

From the Google bar, you can view notifications from a particular Google service, like Gmail or Drive, even when you don't have it open.

View notifications

  1. Sign in to your Google Account.
  2. On the upper right, select Notifications Notifications.

You'll see a list of all your notifications.

Dismiss notifications

To dismiss notifications, follow the directions above and select Clear all Clear all.

Manage notifications

  1. Sign in to your Google Account.
  2. On the upper right, select Notifications Notifications and then Settings Settings.
  3. Next to each app name, click the switch on or off.
Customize your menu

You can customize the launcher to show your favorite apps at the top. To do this, drag and drop them within the menu.

Note: To customize your menu, make sure you're signed in to your Google Account. 

Add more apps

If you'd like to add one you don't see in the list:

  1. Sign in to your Google Account.
  2. Select Google apps Apps.
  3. At the bottom of the menu, select More.
  4. Drag the Google apps you want to the top of the launcher.

Add apps that aren't in the "More" menu

You can also add Google apps you use that don't appear in the "More" section.

  1. Sign in to your Google Account.
  2. Open the app you would like to add.
  3. In the upper right, select Google apps Apps.
  4. Below the app name, select Add a shortcut.

If you don't see the Google apps launcher on the page, you might not be able to add that app to the App launcher right now.

Search within apps

For some services like Gmail, the Google bar will include a search box you can use to search within that service. For example, in Gmail you can use this search box to find a specific email.

Sign out, switch accounts, or manage your Google Account

To sign out of your account, switch accounts, or manage your account settings, select your picture on the upper right side of the screen. If you see your email address at the top instead of a photo, select that.

From there you can:

  • Sign out. To sign out, select Sign out.
  • Switch accounts. To switch accounts, choose the picture or email address linked your other account.
  • Manage your Google Account. To manage your account settings, select My Account.

Note: Signing out of your account from the Google bar means you'll be signed out for all Google apps. For example, if you signed out of Gmail, you'll also be signed out of Calendar and Maps.

Common problems

I clicked on the App launcher and can't get back to Gmail

If you accidentally clicked away from your Gmail inbox and end up on a different Google page:

  1. In the upper right, select Google apps Apps.
  2. Select Gmail .
The apps I use aren't in my notifications list

The only apps you'll see in your list are ones you've received notifications from already. For example, you might get YouTube notifications over email, but, if you never received a YouTube notification in the Google bar, YouTube won't show up in this list.

I turned off notifications but I am still getting them

Disabling notifications in the Google bar does not disable the notifications you receive from the same Google app on your phone, tablet or email. To turn off those notifications, check the settings in each app.

I can't click on an app I normally use in the App launcher

Certain apps are not supported everywhere. If you're traveling in a country where an app isn't supported, it'll show up in your App launcher, but you won't be able to click it. 

true
Protect Your Identity Online

Get step-by-step visual guides on the tools and practices that will help you protect your personal information with Google's Online Security Guidebook.

Search
Clear search
Close search
Google apps
Main menu
13908640398112209494
true
Search Help Center
true
true
true
true
true
70975
false
false