Google Updated the User Interface for Cloud Products

You went to one of the Google services and can't understand why everything looks so unusual there? Don't worry, nothing bad happened. The developers just updated the user interface.

Google has begun rolling out an updated user interface for Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. To create it, the developers used the Material Design 3 design system. All services function exactly the same as usual, but at the same time they have become more simplified and streamlined. The novelty has provided them with several additions and improvements. Thus, the company optimizes the interoperability between its cloud products.

For the first time, changes in the interface design of the Google Drive office suite were announced in February this year. Thanks to them, it gained a visual resemblance to the new Gmail. Some elements (comments and the toolbar) have been given a few darker tones to make them more visible against the white background of an open document in Docs or Sheets. The Share button has rounded up (currently it looks like a rectangle with rounded corners).

In addition to external changes, Google specialists have added the Smart Chips feature, which was presented back in 2021. It is very similar to Fluid components from Microsoft Office. With Smart Chips, you can embed third-party services directly into a document created in Docs, such as in Notion.

Google said the update will roll out gradually over 15 days for those with a Rapid Release plan. By March 25, all other users will receive the new interface: both subscribers of the Google Workspace specialized cloud software package, and owners of ordinary free accounts, and even users of old G Suite applications (Basic and Business versions).