● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Google Phone app beta reintroduces Contacts tab in bottom bar
Key points
- Contacts tab returns to Google Phone app beta.
- Tab is located between Home and Keypad.
- Previous Material 3 redesign removed the tab.
- Available in beta version 243+ via server-side update.
Contacts Tab Reinstated
The Google Phone app beta is reintroducing a dedicated Contacts tab to its bottom navigation bar. This update, rolling out to beta users on version 243, places the Contacts tab between the existing Home and Keypad tabs. Users may need to force stop the app to see the change.
Reversal of Previous Design
This change reverses a design decision made with the Material 3 Expressive redesign last year, which had removed the Contacts tab from the main navigation. Previously, contacts were accessible through a navigation drawer or a Favorites carousel. The navigation drawer shortcut for contacts has now been removed.
User Experience Impact
The reintroduction of the Contacts tab is a straightforward addition that likely reflects how frequently users access contacts directly from the dialer application. This update aims to simplify navigation for a core function of the phone app.
Rollout Status
The new Contacts tab is currently rolling out slowly to users in the Phone by Google beta program (version 240 and above) via a server-side update. It is not yet widely available for all testers and has not reached the stable channel.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
The Google Phone app beta is reintroducing a dedicated Contacts tab to its bottom navigation bar, reversing a previous redesign that moved contacts to a navigation drawer. This change simplifies access to contacts directly within the dialer application, indicating frequent user interaction with contacts through the app.