Google Places API for Android - PlacePikcer without search option
Unfortunately the Place Picker does not support what you are asking for.
From what I can see search is currently not supported in the PlacePicker API. You can look at: PlacePicker.IntentBuilder and PlacePicker@Ferran Negre: Yes, I also saw that Hangouts (version 4.0.100406486) seems to use the PlacePicker with search. I actually logged it to make sure and they do use the PlacePicker activity. SO either they copied the PlacePicker code into Hangouts and modified it (they are Google and should have access) OR there is a hidden API for showing search that for some reason has not yet been released. Even if such a hidden API exists though it would be bad practice to try to use it.
It looks like that they have listened to us and they already support this feature!
We have also added the autocomplete functionality to the place picker—a UI widget that helps users communicate their current location, such as a place, address or location on a map.
http://googlegeodevelopers.blogspot.com/2015/12/autocomplete-widget-and-updated-place.html