Google has started rolling out a new look for Google Messages, bringing a redesigned app icon with a colourful gradient finish. And it’s not the only app getting a makeover, with Phone by Google and Google Contacts also receiving updated icons as part of the company’s latest design refresh.
The update was first spotted in the Google Messages beta, where the familiar blue messaging icon appeared with a new gradient effect. Google has since officially confirmed the redesign, announcing on November 2 that all three apps will receive refreshed icons over the coming weeks.
The new Messages icon keeps its familiar overlapping speech bubble design but introduces a softer blend of colours, including hints of purple alongside Google’s signature blue. The darker blue has also been pushed towards the back, giving the icon a more layered appearance. Google says the updated designs feature sharper edges, adjusted curves and more consistent colouring, making them easier to recognise on the home screen.
The changes aren’t limited to Messages either. Phone by Google and Google Contacts are getting similar visual updates, bringing all three apps closer to the design language Google has been introducing across its services. It’s part of a wider refresh that has already reached apps such as Gmail, Google Wallet and Pixel Buds, following the company’s move towards gradient-based icons earlier this year.
While the redesign gives Google’s communication apps a more consistent appearance, there are no new messaging features or functionality changes included as part of this announcement. Google has confirmed that the update is purely cosmetic, so users can expect the same experience when sending texts, making calls or managing contacts.
The refreshed icons are rolling out from November 2 and should begin appearing on Android devices over the coming weeks. For Google Messages users, the change is a relatively small one, but it brings the app in line with Google’s increasingly colourful approach to its wider app lineup.
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