In the latter part of 2025, Google began introducing a fresh set of app icons featuring a gradient design. This aesthetic transformation now seems poised to extend across Google’s entire suite of applications. According to 9to5Google, the new icons abandon the previous uniform circular design that attempted to incorporate every hue from the Google logo.

Overall, these icons present a softer appearance. The corners are more rounded, and the gradients smoothly transition from pastel shades to Google’s more vibrant primary colors. This updated design language has already been seen in revamped versions of the Google G logo, as well as in Gemini, Photos, and Maps. As reported by 9to5, this style shift signifies the integration of AI-driven features.

The new icons exude a playful, lively, and diverse character, aligning with contemporary design trends that have moved away from the flat aesthetics popular in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Google Sheets, Slides, Forms, Sites, and Keep have all moved past the portrait-oriented paper design. Many icons now adopt a landscape orientation, which feels more fitting—after all, how often do you encounter a vertical PowerPoint presentation?

In essence, most of these new icons represent an enhancement. They are more visually distinct and frequently embrace a single color theme. For instance, Chat has replaced its four-color speech bubble with a green shape featuring a smile, reminiscent of the Google Hangouts icon. However, not all changes have been well-received, as the Keep icon has been criticized for its less appealing appearance.

The exact timeline for the rollout of these new icon designs remains uncertain, but they are expected to make their debut sooner rather than later.