Are you ready to be transported back to Kansas? As of December 17, 2025, one of Google’s most beloved and visually stunning secret features, the "Wizard of Oz shoes trick," is still fully functional, allowing users to transform their search page with a simple click. This timeless Google Easter egg pays tribute to the classic 1939 film, *The Wizard of Oz*, by momentarily turning your digital world from vibrant color to a nostalgic sepia tone, complete with the iconic sound of Dorothy’s ruby slippers.
This deep-dive guide will walk you through the exact steps to activate the magical ruby slippers icon, explain the history behind its creation, and connect this fun trick to Google’s latest, high-profile projects involving the classic movie, proving that "There's no place like home" is a sentiment that transcends time and technology.
The Complete Guide to Activating the Ruby Slippers Google Trick
The beauty of the Wizard of Oz Google trick lies in its simplicity. Unlike complicated keyboard shortcuts or hidden menus, this feature is built directly into the main Google Search interface. Follow these two easy steps to experience the magic:
Step 1: Search for the Magic Word
- Open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) and go to Google.com.
- In the search bar, type the exact phrase: "The Wizard of Oz" (or simply "Wizard of Oz").
- Press Enter or click the Search button.
Once the search results load, look for the Knowledge Panel on the right side of the screen (on desktop) or near the top of the results (on mobile). This panel provides a summary of information about the film. You will immediately notice a small, sparkling, animated icon.
Step 2: Click Your Heels Together
- The sparkling icon is a pair of bright red ruby slippers, just like the ones worn by Dorothy Gale in the movie.
- Click or tap on the ruby slippers icon.
- Instantly, you will hear the famous sound bite of Dorothy (played by Judy Garland) saying, "There's no place like home."
- A dramatic, swirling tornado animation will then appear, spinning your entire search results page until the screen settles into a vintage, black-and-white, or sepia-tone view.
Congratulations, your digital world has just landed in the Land of Oz! The entire search page, including the Google logo, search results, and text, will remain in this nostalgic 1939 film aesthetic until you reverse the effect.
How to Return to Color (There's No Place Like Home)
To undo the trick and bring the color back, you simply need to click on a new icon that has appeared in the same spot where the ruby slippers were. This new icon is a swirling tornado. Clicking the tornado will reverse the animation, play the sound of a strong wind, and restore your search page to its normal, full-color state.
The History of the Wizard of Oz Easter Egg
The "Wizard of Oz" trick is more than just a novelty; it’s a piece of digital history that showcases Google’s commitment to pop culture and interactive fun. Understanding its origins adds a layer of appreciation for this clever Google secret feature.
Celebrating a Milestone Anniversary
The Easter egg was officially launched by Google in August 2019. The timing was significant: it marked the 80th anniversary of the classic 1939 movie, *The Wizard of Oz*. The film, starring Judy Garland, is famous for its groundbreaking transition from the black-and-white scenes in Kansas to the vibrant Technicolor of the Land of Oz.
Google’s engineers designed the trick to mirror this exact cinematic experience. The initial black-and-white view (sepia tone) represents Dorothy's home in Kansas, while the full-color return symbolizes her arrival in Oz. The sound clips of Dorothy and the visual effects of the Kansas tornado were meticulously included to create an immersive, nostalgic experience for fans of the movie.
Why is it Still Working in 2025?
Many Google Easter eggs are temporary, often disappearing after a short celebration period. For example, some sources indicated the Wizard of Oz feature was briefly removed in 2020. However, due to its immense popularity and the ongoing cultural relevance of the film, the feature has been kept active on the main Google Search engine.
Its persistence makes it one of the most enduring and well-known pop culture Google Easter eggs, alongside other classics like "Askew" and "Do a Barrel Roll." Its continuous functionality in late 2025 confirms its status as a permanent, beloved fixture in the Google ecosystem.
The Wizard of Oz and Google’s Latest Technological Frontier
The connection between the classic 1939 film and Google is not limited to a fun search trick. In a surprising and very recent development, Google has once again highlighted its deep engagement with the *Wizard of Oz* property, but this time, on a massive, cutting-edge scale.
A New Era of Oz at The Sphere Las Vegas
In a major announcement, Google—specifically its Google DeepMind and Google Cloud divisions—partnered with The Sphere in Las Vegas to create a spectacular, high-resolution showing of *The Wizard of Oz*.
This collaboration involves using generative AI to enhance the classic film, creating new scenes and restoring the existing footage to an unprecedented 16K resolution, specifically for the massive, immersive screen at The Sphere.
- Technological Entities: Google DeepMind, Google Cloud, Generative AI.
- Key Figures: Dorothy Gale, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Wicked Witch of the West.
- Thematic Elements: Yellow Brick Road, Emerald City, Witches of Oz, Toto the dog.
This recent, high-tech project confirms a crucial point: *The Wizard of Oz* is not just an old movie to Google; it's a living, breathing cultural entity that the company continues to invest in. The simple, charming ruby slippers Easter egg on the search page serves as a delightful, accessible gateway to this much larger, technological appreciation of the film’s legacy.
Beyond the Slippers: Other Classic Google Easter Eggs to Try
If you enjoyed the magical transformation of the Wizard of Oz search page, you might be interested in exploring other hidden gems. Google has hundreds of these interactive features built into its search engine, ranging from pop culture references to fun historical facts. Here are a few popular ones to try next:
- "Askew": This simple search will tilt your entire search results page slightly, demonstrating a clever CSS trick.
- "Do a Barrel Roll": Searching this phrase will cause your screen to spin 360 degrees, a nod to the classic Nintendo game *Star Fox*.
- "Pac-Man": Searching for the classic arcade game often brings up a playable version of the game directly in the search results.
- "The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything": Searching this phrase (a reference to *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*) will reveal the famous number 42.
The Wizard of Oz shoes Google trick remains a perfect example of how the world’s largest search engine can blend utility with delight. It’s a simple, nostalgic moment of digital theater that, even in 2025, continues to remind us that sometimes, all it takes is a click of the heels to change your world.
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