Google Pokémon Catch: The Complete Guide for 2026

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From the April 1, 2014, you can hunt Pokemon directly on Google, without downloading anything. This project was developed in partnership with the Pokémon Company, and the news spread across the web in a matter of hours.

The goal is simple: to capture the 151 first Pokémon in the region of Kanto. The experiment is mobile-optimized (Android Where iOS).

Catch all 151 Kanto Pokémon on Google Search — You can catch Pokémon on Google. ©Alexia for Alucare.fr

How to play Pokémon (Easter Egg) on Google?

Everything happens right in the search engine, right from your smartphone. Here are the steps to catch your first creature:

Open the’Google application or your mobile browser on Android Where iOS
Type in the Pokémon's name in the search bar (for example Pikachu)

Type the Pokémon's name into the Google search bar on your mobile device — Type the Pokémon's name into the Google search bar ©Alexia for Alucare.fr

On the results page, a A Poké Ball appears in the lower right corner of the screen
Tap the Poké Ball to start recording

Tap the Poké Ball shown on the right side of the screen to catch the Pokémon — Tap the Poké Ball to catch the Pokémon ©Alexia for Alucare.fr

A small capture animation ...is then triggered, just like in real Pokémon video games. Once you've caught it, you'll be taken to your Interactive Pokédex personal assistant who keeps track of all your catches. The Pokémon Still in the Wild appear in silhouette, to show you what you still need to find to complete your collection.

Catching a Pokémon on Google is accompanied by a short animation — Catching your Pokémon on Google is accompanied by a short cutscene ©Alexia for Alucare.fr

The interactive, personalized Pokédex in the Pokémon Google game — Your interactive, personalized Pokédex on Google ©Alexia for Alucare.fr

To make sure your screenshots are saved, make sure you're signed in to your Google account. This is what allows you to complete your Pokédex over time, even if you close the app between sessions.

Earning Master Balls for Legendary Pokémon

Google has integrated a bearing system which rewards the most dedicated trainers with Master Balls. You'll get one after that 5, 20, 50, 100, then 150 captures.

These Master Balls are essential because the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon can only be caught with them. In other words, you can't catch Artikodin, Électhor, Sulfura, Mewtwo and Mew only with these special objects. The Pokémon Company and Google deliberately chose this system to reward the most dedicated trainers.

Earn Master Balls to catch legendary Pokémon on Google — Earn Master Balls to capture legendary Pokémon on Google ©Alexia for Alucare.fr

The game won't launch? Two settings to try

If the Poké Ball If it refuses to appear, there are two settings that can resolve the issue:

Enables the saving searches in your Google settings
Pass your browser in English : Several users confirm that this setting is enough to make the Easter egg appear

The 151 Pokémon to Catch on Google: The Complete List

Don't know them all by heart? Here's the complete list of creatures waiting for you. Each name Type it directly into Google to make the Poké Ball appear. If your browser is set to English, be sure to use the English name of the Pokémon.