Pinned chat avatars rise above conversations in Google Messages homepage redesign, with bottom search and corner Gemini
Pinned chats move above conversations
The redesign uses the existing background area, which currently holds the logo or wordmark, search and account menu. Large contact photos for pinned chats appear above all other conversations, pushing the list farther down the page.
The layout does not show conversation history or the last sent information, a drawback also associated with the iMessage layout on iOS. The change gives pinned chats more prominence than they had when simply listed at the top.
Search changes with scrolling
Google is also testing a centered floating action button for search alongside the new-chat control. While scrolling down, users see “Search” in a pill-shaped button, with the other button minimized.
At other times, the control shows a circular magnifying-glass icon and “Start chat” in the pill. The accompanying animation is intended to support one-handed use.
Gemini shifts to the corner
Google has moved the Gemini floating action button to a button in the top-right corner, beside the profile image. The placement follows a design used in Workspace apps on desktop and mobile.
The homepage changes are currently in the beta channel and have not widely reached testers. Some users have all parts of the redesign, while Google appears to be delivering the components separately.
Key points
- Pinned contact photos now appear above all conversations, pushing the chat list down.
- The redesign omits conversation history and last-sent information from the pinned area.
- Search changes between a pill-shaped control and a minimized button as users scroll.
- The beta changes are rolling out to testers in stages.