Google Photos Unveils Material 3 Expressive Design for Enhanced User Experience

Last month, Google officially announced that Android 16 and WearOS 6 would adopt a fresh design language called Material 3 Expressive. In a blog post, the tech giant described the update as a “more fluid” interface that introduces a system of natural, springy animations, aiming to make the user experience smoother and more dynamic.

Since the announcement, Google has started rolling out the Material 3 Expressive design to various Android apps. Early signs of the redesign have appeared in Gmail, Messages, and now Google Photos, which is undergoing a major interface update.

Google Photos Gets a Fresh Look

According to Android Authority, the new Material 3 Expressive UI is now live in Google Photos version 7.30, although users must manually enable the interface for now.

In the updated design:

• The traditional app name at the top of the homepage has been replaced by a minimalistic app logo for a cleaner appearance.

The Memories carousel has also seen a visual refresh. It now features a heart-shaped border that visually divides content into two sections:

• The bottom half displays the image.
  
  
• The top section has a solid background with overlay text, enhancing clarity and contrast.
  
  

Additional Design Enhancements

Google is reportedly working on further design improvements across the app, including:

• A redesigned video player
  
  
• A revamped search results page
  
  
• An updated app loading icon that aligns with the new Material 3 Expressive animation style
  
  

While the current version does not yet include features like a floating bottom navigation bar or rounded image previews, these elements may be introduced in upcoming updates.

Album View and Sharing Updates

In a recent update, Google also redesigned the album view within the app. Key changes include:

• The ability to scan QR codes to share albums quickly
  
  
• A relocation of the Sort photos button to the top navigation bar for easier access
  
  

Rollout Timeline

The complete Material 3 Expressive redesign for Google Photos is expected to roll out more broadly with the release of Android 16 QPR1, which Google plans to launch later this year.