Google Photos is finally ditching its traditional bottom navigation bar for a more streamlined, floating toolbar, starting with users on iOS. This move brings the photo app in line with the vast majority of other Google Android applications that have already adopted the shorter bottom bar design.
A Floating Toolbar for Easier Access
The new toolbar offers quick access to frequently used actions within Google Photos.
The floating toolbar, now available in version 7.63 for iOS, is housed within a pill-shaped container. When viewing specific tabs—like Photos, Collections, or Create—an accompanying icon appears to the left, clearly indicating your current location. A floating action button on the right provides quick access to Search and Ask features.
Unlike the bottom bar it replaces, this toolbar remains persistent and doesn’t disappear as you scroll through your images. It’s designed to be a lighter visual element, positioned high enough on the screen to ensure your photos remain the focal point.
What’s the difference between a bottom bar and a floating toolbar? A bottom bar is typically used for primary navigation between different sections of an app. A floating toolbar, as defined by Google’s Material 3 guidelines, is intended for “frequently used actions relevant to the current page.”
Google isn’t reinventing the wheel here. This floating toolbar concept aligns with the Material 3 Expressive design guidelines and has already been implemented in other Google apps, such as Google Chat, which received the update two years ago.
A practical example of this implementation can be found within Google Photos Albums, showcasing how the toolbar effectively houses actions specific to the current view. The design prioritizes accessibility and ease of use, allowing users to quickly perform common tasks without navigating away from their photos.
