Google Photos has initiated the rollout of significant visual updates, most notably introducing a redesigned video player within the app. These changes are now accessible to users who update their Google Photos application to the latest version.
The updated video player features a more prominent progress bar, enhanced with a vertical indicator to facilitate easier navigation through video timelines. Key control elements have been repositioned: the volume button and a new pause button are now situated directly above the progress bar. A notable functional improvement allows users to double-tap on either side of the video to skip forward or rewind by five-second increments, with each additional tap adding another five seconds to the skip duration. This replaces the previous method of holding down to adjust playback speed or fast-forward/rewind.
Beyond the video player, Google has also refined the app’s onboarding screen. This updated interface now gives greater prominence to the user’s profile picture and name, aligning with Google’s broader “Material Expressive 3” design philosophy. However, this redesign no longer includes the mobile data toggle that was observed in an April onboarding UI teardown.
These incremental changes are part of a wider design refresh by Google, which is extending the Material 3 Expressive design language to various other applications. Upcoming updates are anticipated for platforms such as Gmail, Phone, and Meet, indicating a consistent effort to harmonize the user experience across its ecosystem.
