GoKawiilGoogle testing return of Contacts tab to Phone app navigation bar
Android Authority found that Google is developing a UI change for the Phone by Google app that would move the Contacts tab back into the bottom navigation bar, alongside Home and Keypad. The feature was uncovered in beta version 240.0.986973448 and enabled through manual tinkering, not yet a public rollout. Currently, Contacts sits in a sidebar menu after Google's Material 3 Expressive redesign removed it from the main navigation last year.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The original move to hide Contacts in a sidebar drew criticism from users who wanted faster access to saved numbers, so restoring it to the main bar suggests Google may be responding to that feedback. Since this was found via an APK teardown of unreleased code, it remains unconfirmed whether or when the change will actually reach general users.
- Google is testing moving Contacts back into the Phone app's bottom navigation bar.
- The change was discovered in a beta build via APK teardown, not an official announcement.
- No confirmed rollout timeline exists yet for the reverted navigation layout.
Source: androidauthority.com, 2026-09-25
Published there as: “Google could undo one of the most annoying recent changes to the Phone app”
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