Google Chat has undergone a couple of design changes since late last year, starting with the introduction of abottom navigation baron its mobile apps. This was followed up by alogo redesignin line with a few otherGoogle Workspace apps. Google Chat is now picking up another visual upgrade with the addition ofStarredmessages on iOS and Android.
The web version of Google Chat added support for Starred messages back in November, as noted by theWorkspace blog. This feature is now ready to make it to the mobile apps, involving a rearrangement of the bottom navigation bar. To accommodate this,Mentionshas been moved inside a three-dot menu within the pill-shaped container, joining the new Starred option, as shown below. In its previous form, Mentions was the fourth option in the navigation bar after Home, Direct Messages, and Spaces.
Google says this change “helps you stay on top of your most important messages,” but it can be quite confusing at first glance, especially with the Mentions option disappearing. As 9to5Googlenotes, the existing arrangement of the pill-shaped container is still present within the Gmail app’s Chat experience, pictured below.
The navigation bar of the Google Chat app inside Gmail
When the feature is available, users will be able to star messages by long-pressing the chat and tapping the star. You can unstar a message by going to the newly added shortcut or by going to the message directly, Google says. These changes will appear to all Google Chat app users on iOS and Android, irrespective of whether they are on a personal account or any of the Workspace tiers. However, it could take a couple of weeks to reflect across all devices.
Gmail app’s side-mounted navigation bar on tablets and foldables
Lastly, after multiple Google apps,including Drive, picked up a sidebar, the Gmail app for tablets and foldables is ready for the same treatment. There are reportsdating back to Decembermentioning the appearance of a navigation rail on the Gmail app for tablets. Meanwhile, foldable smartphones have seen this navigation rail since at least July, indicating that these changes are part of a phased rollout.
