Last year, Google Maps on Android was revamped so that the main map view displayed information using sheets, and the entire app is now getting this visual redesign.
Instead of place listings being fullscreen, Google last year made everything a sheet. When fully expanded, you still see a sliver of the map at the top of your display. This helps preserve context and emphasizes the map layer.
At the time, this new design only applied to the “Explore” tab. Google Maps is now updating the “You” and “Contribute” tabs to function in a similar manner.
Old vs. new
By default, tapping on each tab in the bottom bar will expand the sheet to cover everything but the transparent status bar. When you minimize the sheet (though it cannot be fully hidden — go to the Explore tab for that), the Maps search bar appears up top. That also gives you consistent, app-wide access to the account menu.
The You tab can be made a half sheet, with the map visible in the background as you scroll, while you get a button for notifications in the top-right corner.
This change makes Google Maps, across all three views, a bit more consistent. So far, we’re only seeing this sheets-based Google Maps redesign on one phone (version 25.04.01.x). It’s not yet widely rolled out, and might still be in testing.
The other big change to Google Maps for Android (and iOS) in 2024 simplified the bottom bar to just those three tabs (from five sections). Then there was the new teal accent color.
More on Google Maps:
- Google and Kia Motors announce deal to bring Google Maps & Places to new vehicles
- Google Maps widely rolling out on-device Timeline history notice
- Google Maps now uses dash cam footage to update road data including speed limits
- Google Maps app showing incident reports from Waze
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