Google is pushing a significant visual overhaul to Gboard on Android. The keyboard app's shortcuts page is moving away from its previous grid layout of small rectangular cards that scrolled vertically. Instead, users will now see a Material 3 Expressive design that places each tool inside a rounded pill shape featuring an icon alongside its name.
The text inside these pills is noticeably larger than what appeared in the older grid format. The new layout relies on a two-column view, allowing users to swipe horizontally to access additional tools like Writing Tools. This shift from vertical scrolling to horizontal swiping matches broader navigation patterns Google has been implementing across its Android ecosystem, prioritizing wider, swipeable surfaces over tall, scrollable lists.
Customization is also getting an update. Tapping the pencil icon in the bottom right corner opens a reorder menu where users can hold and drag items to their preferred positions. These customization screens also use the rounded M3 Expressive containers, keeping the visual language consistent throughout the entire process. When shortcuts appear in the Gboard suggestions strip at the top of the keyboard, they drop their pill containers to fit the compact space. Additionally, the traditional back button has been replaced by a close symbol in the top left corner, aligning with modern Android navigation standards that favor closing over going back.
This redesign is rolling out through a server-side update on the Gboard stable channel, specifically version 17.7. Users will see a banner inviting them to adjust their menu and shortcut settings once the update reaches their device. Google first began testing this visual refresh in January, and the long testing period suggests the company was careful to ensure the horizontal swipe gestures and larger touch targets did not interfere with the core typing experience.
For frequent Gboard users, the change is more than cosmetic. Larger text and clearer iconography reduce the chance of tapping the wrong tool in a rush, and the swipeable pages make it easier to scan available options quickly without losing your place in a conversation.
The shift to Material 3 Expressive is part of a wider visual refresh happening across Google's first-party apps. As Android matures, Google is clearly trying to soften the rigid, card-heavy aesthetics of earlier Material Design iterations. Rounded pills, larger typography, and swipeable surfaces are replacing the small, dense grids that dominated Android interfaces for years. Gboard, being one of the most heavily used apps on the platform, is a high-visibility place to showcase this new direction.