Why Your Phone Interface and Contacts Have Suddenly Changed

Have you noticed a sudden change in your phone’s interface, especially in the dialler menu? Don’t worry, you haven’t been hacked.
As it turns out, Google is rolling out a major redesign of its Phone app, something which has caught many users unaware.
The update is part of the company’s ongoing transition to Material 3 Expressive (M3) design language to bring a mix of visual and functional changes. These changes are now live in version 186 and above for stable users.
At the heart of the redesign is a cleaner and more modern interface, which aims to reduce clutter and streamline how you typically interact with your call history, contacts and keypad.
One of the most noticeable changes is the merging of the Favourites andRecent tabs into a new unified “Home” tab. After this change, users’ starred contacts sit in a horizontal carousel at the top, with the call log flowing directly underneath.
There has also been a shift in the keypad, which now lives in the middle tab, thereby replacing the previous floating action button. The number pad has also been redesigned to have a rounded, sheet-like appearance, which aligns it with the Material 3 aesthetic.
For users wondering where their contact list has gone, it hasn’t disappeared but has been moved. It can now be found tucked inside a navigation drawer, accessible from the search bar at the top of the screen.
In the same drawer, you can also find access to Settings,Clear call history and Help & feedback. All these changes are part of Google’s broader shift towards a cleaner top-bar navigation across its ecosystem.
In terms of functionality, the most recognisable upgrade is how you answer or decline calls, as Google looks to move away from the traditional swipe-up or down gesture. This has been replaced with a horizontal swipe or a single tap option.
This design, according to the giant tech company, is designed to prevent accidental call responses, especially when users are pulling their phones from their pockets or bags.
Needless to say, not everyone is a fan of the new updates. If you’re one of them, there is a simple way to reverse every new update. The first step is to go to the Google Play Store and search for “Phone by Google”.
Then tap on “app listing” and proceed to tap the three buttons at the top. This will bring the option to “Uninstall updates”, then confirm when prompted.
Users who have received the update will also notice that there is no huge change in voicemail in terms of functionality. However, its appearance has been slightly tweaked with a new list style which matches the rest of the updated interface.
According to Google, these changes are part of a server-side rollout, meaning that even if you’ve updated to the latest version of the Phone app, the changes may not be experienced immediately. Since Google tends to phase the new releases in waves, users will get the update sooner than others, depending on region and the type of device.