Gemini for Android rolls out side panel and settings redesign

A Streamlined Navigation and Side Panel Experience

The most immediate visual change users will notice upon opening the updated Gemini app on Android is the repositioning of core navigation elements. Google has relocated the search functionality to the top-right corner of the interface, establishing a more intuitive layout for users looking to quickly query their historical conversations.

In the primary navigation drawer, "New chat" remains firmly positioned as the top item, but it is now immediately followed by "Library," marking a departure from its previous placement near the bottom of the menu. This shift places high-value management tools right where users are most likely to look when organizing their AI interactions.

To prevent the navigation drawer from becoming cluttered while still offering quick access to recent chat histories, Google has implemented a collapsible menu system. The application now displays a streamlined list of just five primary items before introducing a "More" option. Tapping this expansion button reveals the remainder of the user’s available features.

For users subscribed to an AI Ultra tier, the complete, expanded list encompasses a wide array of specialized tools and functions. This full roster includes New chat, Library, Images, Scheduled, Daily brief, Customize, Students, Videos, and Gems. By capping the initial view at five items, the interface manages to accommodate advanced subscription features without overwhelming casual users who primarily rely on standard conversational prompts.

Consolidated Settings and Preferences

Beyond the visual refresh of the side panel, the Gemini app on Android introduces a heavily restructured settings architecture. Previously, user preferences were somewhat fragmented, split awkwardly between the account menu and a separate designated "Gemini Settings" section. Google has now resolved this division by consolidating all configuration options into a single, unified page.

Under the new layout, the account menu has been stripped down to its core purpose. It is now dedicated strictly to account switching, submitting user feedback, and accessing help resources.

The primary "Settings" page now serves as a comprehensive dashboard for managing the application. At the very top of the page, users will find essential account controls, including options to manage their account and monitor usage limits.

Beneath these administrative controls lies the robust "Preferences" section, which houses an extensive array of configuration categories. Users can fine-tune their experience through dedicated submenus for Notifications, Personal Intelligence, Avatar, Task settings, a newly introduced Theme option, Skills, Voice, Media, Device controls, Cart and orders management, and Gemini Notebook.

This sweeping consolidation makes it significantly easier for users to locate and modify specific parameters without having to jump back and forth between different layers of the application interface.

Broader Ecosystem Rollout

The deployment of these interface changes on Android marks the latest phase in a broader, multi-platform rollout by Google. The updated side panel and unified settings framework first appeared last week on Apple platforms, including iOS and macOS, as well as the web-based version of the Gemini app. Those desktop and mobile web rollouts coincided with the release of Gemini 4 Argon, signaling a coordinated push by the tech giant to standardize the user experience across every device where its conversational AI is accessible.

With the server-side update now actively reaching Android devices, millions of smartphone users can expect to see the refreshed navigation layout and streamlined settings menu automatically appear. As Google continues to expand the capabilities of its AI assistant—ranging from task management and customized Gems to integrated shopping carts and media controls—these architectural updates provide a cleaner, more scalable foundation for future feature additions.