Google Maps has been working on a new design for its Android app since early 2024. This new design moves from a full-screen user interface to page-based layouts. Google is finally opening this new look to more users.
These pages have rounder corners, showing the map in more places and emphasizing the background layer. In addition to helping maintain context while navigating the app, this new design makes Google Maps look cleaner.
Users can close pages with location listings by tapping the “x” button added to the top right or by swiping back from the left or right edges. In the new design, there will no longer be a need to swipe up on the search bar just to see the map.
The other major change is to the page where directions are shown. The interface for entering a destination is still a full page, with a transportation methods modifier and a list of recent locations.
However, once entered, only the start/end location is shown at the top of the screen. The method change tool has been moved to the bottom of the screen for better accessibility. This UI will also utilize a paged design.
Tests for the new design of the Google Maps Android app began in February
Google started testing the new design in February, but stopped working a few weeks later. After some tweaking, the second round of testing began in May. While the new design began rolling out to Android users a few days ago, it has not yet been seen on iOS.