Google’s Universal Cart puts a shopping cart everywhere, including Search homepage, Chrome

Yesterday, Google started rolling out its Universal Cart, prominently placing it in Search, AI Mode, Chrome, and the Gemini app.

This “intelligent shopping cart” was previewed in May at I/O 2026 as a “hub for shopping on Google.” It aims to help users organize their shopping, track items from various retailers, stay updated on promotions, and enjoy seamless checkout through the Universal Commerce Protocol.

Features and Availability

Universal Cart is currently being rolled out in the US, with its presence already noticeable in Google Search. A new shopping cart icon appears in the top-right corner of google.com’s homepage and Search results, as well as on the New Tab Page of desktop Chrome. Clicking this icon reveals a panel with two tabs: “Cart” and “My orders.”

On mobile devices, the shopping cart icon is located to the left of the profile switcher in the Google app for Android, and it also appears on the AI Mode homepage. Additionally, the Gemini app now includes a “Cart and orders” option in the account menu.

User Experience Concerns

Some users may find the prominence of the Universal Cart icon unsettling, as it can make Google Search results that are unrelated to purchases feel like a shopping page. This can be particularly jarring for first-time users.

Shopping Functionality

Google product pages will feature an “Add to cart” button, allowing users to save products from multiple retailers. A useful feature of the Universal Cart is its ability to automatically track changes in product availability and provide notifications for price drops.

When users are ready to make a purchase, Universal Cart will present promo codes and highlight which payment method in Google Wallet offers the most benefits. Retailers such as Nike, Target, Walmart, and Shopify merchants will enable users to complete purchases directly from the Google interface.

Source: 9to5Google