Google Photos Android app gets floating navigation bar

Google Photos has begun rolling out a redesigned navigation interface for its Android app, replacing the traditional bottom bar with a floating, pill-shaped element. The update, which started reaching users on July 8, 2026, reclaims screen space by allowing photos to be visible behind and around the navigation controls. This design had already been available to iPhone users since February.

The new layout consolidates the primary tabs for Photos, Collections, and Create into a single floating container. A separate circular button on the right provides access to the Gemini-powered "Ask Photos" feature, which lets users search their libraries using natural language queries. A secondary floating element appears at the top of the screen while scrolling through the main Photos tab, dynamically displaying the date of the visible images. Users who prefer the previous date display can enable a "Show dates in grid" option from the app's menu.

The change is primarily an aesthetic and functional refinement aimed at reducing visual clutter. By making the navigation bar float above the bottom edge, the interface no longer obscures the content beneath it, providing a clearer view of photos and...