Google Photos is rolling out a major interface update on Android: the traditional fixed bottom navigation bar is being replaced by a floating pill. This change, delivered via a server-side update, is now widely available starting with version 7.83 of the app. The new design follows similar patterns already seen in Google Chat and Google Finance, aiming to enhance the photo gallery browsing experience.
The floating bar for Photos, Collections, and Create
The bar no longer sits at the bottom edge of the screen but floats above the content, allowing users to see more of their photos underneath and to the sides. The three main tabs remain Photos, Collections, and Create, with an icon on the left indicating the active feed. On the right, a circle provides access to search and Ask Photos, the Gemini-powered feature.
Sponsored Protocol
How to restore date display in the grid
With the floating bar, the day indicator has moved to another floating pill at the top that appears when scrolling and disappears after a few seconds. Users who prefer the old behavior can revert it by tapping the three-dot overflow menu in the top-right corner, selecting Photos view settings, and enabling Show dates in grid. This permanently displays dates like Today, Yesterday, and the specific day, now centered instead of left-aligned.
The update follows a limited test phase that began in July. Until now, the design was only available on iOS since February. The Android rollout is server-side, so some users may not see the changes immediately. In that case, force-stopping the app from App info may help. Google continues to push toward a more expressive Material 3 design language, as seen in other applications.
Sponsored Protocol
For more on software infrastructure challenges, read the article LinkedIn, Walmart, and Zendesk reveal: legacy infrastructure slows AI agents, not the models. For general information about Google Photos, visit the official Wikipedia page.
Source: https://9to5google.com/2026/07/17/google-photos-floating-bottom-bar-android
