Google has enhanced the appearance of its Chat app in the Android status bar to reduce confusion with its Messages app. The updated design features an outline style that helps differentiate the two applications, which previously had similar icons that were easily mistaken for one another, especially at smaller sizes.
Version 2026.06.01.x of Google Chat for Android, which rolled out widely yesterday, includes these changes. The new icon contrasts with the previous design, which was a simplified white version of the Messages icon, with only a small smile to differentiate them.
For businesses relying on Google Chat, this update is particularly significant, as the overlap in icon design could lead to miscommunication between personal and work messages. In terms of downloads, Google Chat has surpassed 50 million on the Play Store, while Messages has achieved over 10 billion.
Last week also saw the full launch of the gradient Google Workspace icons, with Gmail for Android being the last to update. This ongoing evolution of Google's icons aims to improve user experience across its messaging platforms.