Skip to main content

It's not just you — the Google Play Store really does look different right now

Your apps get updated all the time, so it only makes sense that their home gets updated from time to time, too. No, we’re not talking about a new operating system, but rather a major makeover to the Google Play Store. As first reported by Android Police, Google is currently testing out a number of UI changes to its Play Store, a notable move given just how different the interface looks.

Clearly unafraid of change, the tech giant isn’t treading lightly when it comes to these cosmetic changes, and has now implemented multiple modifications at the same time. Right now, if you head over to the Google Play Store, you’ll see a renamed Entertainment section, a new look for the carousel, and a new Google Play Store banner. What you won’t see is a search bar, which has been removed in this current iteration.

Recommended Videos

It’s what’s missing that is perhaps most obvious: Where there was once a large white search bar, there is now a green bar with a hamburger menu, new branding, and a search button. That means in order to look for an app, you’ll actually have to tap on the new icon, and voice search will require two taps (previously, it only required one).

As for the carousel’s updated aesthetics, in place of stretched-out hero images are more card-like icons, which exist independently (instead of living behind the search bar or hamburger menu). And rather than specifying what kind of entertainment apps you might be getting yourself into and differentiating among Music, Books, and Movies, Google has now lumped everything into one category — Entertainment.

Of course, as GSMArena points out, these changes are presently seeded by Google server-side in the form of a beta test. But it’s unclear as of yet whether or not any permanent changes will be made, so if you’re not the biggest fan, don’t fret … yet.

Lulu Chang
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Google I/O 2025: Everything you need to know
Colorful 3D shapes spell out the Google I/O logo for 2025.

Google IO 2025 officially kicks off today, and begins with an opening keynote at 10am PT / 1pm ET.

For those of you eager to tune in, we've got all the information on how to watch the Google IO 2025 keynote - but we'll also be rounding up everything Google announces after the event here.

Read more
Google Fi already was my favorite eSIM for travel, now it’s even better
Google Fi Wireless logo on an iPhone 16 Pro

This past week marked a momentous moment for Google. Yes, it was YouTube’s 20th birthday, but it was also the tenth birthday of Google's wireless carrier in the US.

For a decade, Google Fi Wireless - previously known as Project Fi and Google Fi - has been delighting customers with a collection of incredible benefits included in your plan.

Read more
Google demos its smartglasses and makes us hanker for the future
A screenshot from Google's TED Talk on its smartglasses.

At a recent TED talk, Google’s exciting XR smartglasses were demonstrated to the public for the very first time. While we’ve seen the smartglasses before, it has always been in highly polished videos showcasing Project Astra, where we never get a true feel for the features and functionality in the real world. All that has now changed, and our first glimpse of the future is very exciting. However, future is very much the operative word. 

https://www.ted.com/talks/shahram_izadi_the_next_computer_your_glasses?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

Read more