Google Phone App Update: Last week, millions of Android users were shocked when the familiar dialer design of their Google Phone app suddenly changed. This change did not happen through any major app update but through server-side activation, that is, as soon as the phone connected to the internet, the new look appeared automatically.
Actually, Google has recently introduced Material 3 Expressive Redesign with Android 16, and this is the reason why the interface of the phone app started looking completely new. But users say that the old look was much easier and cleaner, while the new interface looks confusing and pretentious.
Why was the look of the Google Phone changed?
Google has been trying to adapt all its apps to the same design language for a long time. In this episode, the phone app was also updated with bold colors, new icons, and smooth animation.
But the problem is that the phone app is used the most on a daily basis. People want the calling app to remain simple and light. Many users on social media wrote that the new design is “overly colorful” and “less useful”. Some even said that they would prefer to uninstall the app but not the new interface.
Increased demand for old dialers
There are constant discussions on tech forums and online communities about how to bring back the old dialer. Many users say that simplicity and speed are most important in phone apps, not just a new design.
This is not the first time that Google has had to face criticism for design changes. People did not like the changes in Gmail and YouTube much earlier. But the case of the phone app is different, because it is the most basic and important tool of the smartphone.
How to bring back the old interface of the Google Phone App
If you also do not like the new design and want to get the old look, then there is an easy trick for this. Under this, you have to take the app to the factory version.
Go to the phone settings and open the apps section, from there select the Phone or Dialer app. Tap on the three-dot menu at the top right and then click on Uninstall Updates. As soon as you do this, the app will return to its old version, and the same dialer screen will appear again.
However, keep in mind that your call history and some custom settings may be deleted in this process. Apart from this, it is also important that you go to the Google Play Store and turn off the Auto-Update setting of the Phone app. Otherwise, the new design will come back again in a short time.
Battle of progress vs convenience
This controversy once again shows that there is always a tussle between big tech companies and common users. Companies emphasize innovation and new design, while users want a feeling of convenience and familiarity.
At present, Google has not made any official statement on this issue. But the company’s history shows that it rarely reverses such changes. That is, those who like the old interface will have to make do by using this trick.