Files by Google Stops Through the Material 3 Expressive Design Parlor

A bunch of apps lately have already been updated to the Android’s new design language. So far, we’ve seen Google Drive, Google Calendar, and learnt some interesting tidbits about Material 3 Expressive design language. Following these, now Google Files app (or Files by Google, as it’s called) is receiving the Material 3 Expressive makeover.

Here’s what Files by Google looks in Material 3 Expressive design language

As spotted by fine folks at Android Authority, Files by Google v1.7528 includes code for Material 3 Expressive components. Those aren’t available or activated by default, of course. But AssembleDebug somehow got them turned on and boom, there we go. Thanks to some screenshots, we do get our early look on the upcoming changes to the Files by Google app.

Right off the bat, the home screen feels different. For instance, the Quick Share and File Scanner buttons, which used to be tucked away on the bottom right, now share center stage side-by-side. This new arrangement, paired with cleaner button styling, gives the interface a more polished and balanced vibe. That said, the enlarged thumbnails in the Recents section are a bit of an eyesore.

Additionally, the sidebar has undergone some resizing and padding tweaks. It’s a bit of a guessing game whether these changes are fine-tuning or experiments, but they hint at Google’s attention to detail and user experience improvements behind the scenes.

Another notable update is the introduction of a progress bar when installing APKs or compressing files into ZIP archives. Currently, this bar appears at the bottom of the screen, but the upcoming design aims to bring it front and center with a playful, wavy animation. All these changes are still works in progress, so they may not make it into the official release as-is, the publication adds.