Google introduced Android 12 with the biggest design change Android has had in a long time, and Gmail was one of the first apps to wear it. Here is what changed, who could see it, and what to do if the update did not appear.
What Material You is
The new interface for Android 12, and its general theme, is called Material You. It is built from each user’s device theme and from the wallpaper they have set, which is what makes its colour use dynamic rather than fixed.
Gmail is one of the best-known free email services in the world, and it is preinstalled on almost every phone, so a change to how it looks reaches an unusually large number of people at once.
What changed in Gmail
The new Gmail design arrived for anyone running the updated version of Android 12. Compared with previous versions, the visible differences are more oval edges, simplified menus and closer tones.
- The device starts with a wallpaper or another chosen personal theme
- The design system derives a dynamic colour palette from that choice
- Shared colour and shape rules carry the theme across compatible surfaces
- Gmail receives the related palette, oval edges and simplified controls
Why this is not only about Gmail
Google has revamped its app designs on many occasions, and it recently announced revisions to Chrome and to the Translation app. The plan is to change designs across all its applications gradually, so users can expect a slightly different look everywhere within about a year.
How to get the update
Because these design changes ship with Android 12, only its users could take full advantage of the new Gmail at the time. Everyone else would get it later.
Android 12 Beta 4 is close to the final phase of development and contains only minimal features and changes over previous betas. The additions named are one-handed mode, redesigned notifications and app privacy settings.
If the update will not appear
Some Android 12 users reported difficulty finding the Gmail update in the Play Store. One way around it is to download and install the latest version as an APK file — though the better advice is to be patient and wait for the update to reach you, because APK files are sometimes inconvenient.
What comes next
Google will release more details about Android 12 in due course, and probably more about how its apps will look. Our piece on the delayed WordPress 5.9 release covers a different platform making the same kind of decision about when a change is ready, and there is more on our blog.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Material You?
Material You is the name of the new interface and general theme introduced with Android 12. It works from the theme of each user’s own device and from the wallpaper they have chosen, which is what makes its use of colour dynamic rather than fixed.
What changed in the Gmail design?
The visible differences from previous versions are more oval edges, simplified menus and closer tones. It is described here as the biggest design change Android has had in a very long time.
Who could see the new Gmail?
Only people running the updated version of Android 12, because the design approach ships with the operating system rather than with the app alone. Everyone else would get it later.
Is Google changing its other apps too?
Yes. Google has revamped app designs on many occasions, and it recently announced revisions to Chrome and to the Translation app. The plan is to change designs across all its applications gradually, so users can expect a slightly different look everywhere within about a year.
What else is in Android 12 Beta 4?
Beta 4 is close to the final phase of development and adds only minimal features and changes over the earlier betas. The ones named are one-handed mode, redesigned notifications and app privacy settings.
What if the Gmail update does not appear in the Play Store?
Some Android 12 users reported not finding it. One way round it is to download and install the latest Gmail version as an APK file, but the advice here is to be patient and wait for the update instead, because APK files are sometimes inconvenient.
