Google is reintroducing direct access to the address book in its Phone app. In a recent beta build, the Contacts tab has returned to the bottom navigation bar after being removed last year as part of a design overhaul.
U-Turn on Menu Design
In August 2025, Google gave the app a major makeover based on the “Material 3 Expressive” design language. As part of that update, the company removed the dedicated Contacts tab from the bottom bar, trimming primary navigation down to three sections: Home, Keypad, and Voicemail. Since then, the address book was primarily accessible via the slide-out side menu—the hamburger menu or navigation drawer—as well as a favorites carousel at the top.
Google is now walking back that change. In the new layout, developers have placed the Contacts tab back within easy reach at the bottom of the screen, nestled between Home and the Keypad. Consequently, the side-menu entry has been removed, while other access points like the favorites view remain in place.
Rollout Currently Limited to Beta Testers
The adjustment likely comes in response to user feedback, as many rely on the dialer app primarily to search for and pick saved phone numbers. Hiding a core function behind a side menu required extra taps for routine tasks.
Google is currently rolling out the change gradually in the “Phone by Google Beta” channel starting with version 240. As 9to5Google reports, the updated navigation bar is not yet available to all testers, even within the beta program.
What Users Can Do Now
Those running the stable version of the Google Phone app on their smartphones will have to wait for now. Users already enrolled in the Google Play Store beta program should verify that they have at least version 240 installed, though the feature is not yet being enabled across the board.
Quellen: 9to5google
