Google is rolling out its redesigned Workspace app icons

At a glance:

• Google is now widely rolling out redesigned Workspace app icons with a gradient look, similar to the Google logo launched a year ago.
• Chat, Meet, and Calendar switch to single-color icons; Sheets and Slides shift to landscape orientation; Drive gains rounded corners and loses its red spot.
• The new look arrives just before Google I/O, where further visual changes to the ecosystem may be announced.

Redesign details and rollout

The new Google Workspace icons, first leaked last month, are now appearing for users. The most noticeable change is the shift from flat tones to a gradient effect that fades from lighter to darker shades — a design language that echoes the redesigned Google logo released about a year ago. The overhaul aims to give the suite a more cohesive, modern appearance while making individual apps easier to distinguish from one another.

Several apps moved from a rainbow palette to a single color. Google Chat, Meet, and Calendar now each use one dominant hue, which could help them stand out in a crowded toolbar. However, as some users on Reddit have pointed out, the change may also make the icons harder to recognize at first glance if you’re accustomed to the multicolored versions. 9to5Google noted that other icons, such as Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, kept their original color schemes and general shapes but with a subtle twist: Sheets and Slides are now displayed in landscape orientation, aligning with how most people actually use those apps. One Reddit user highlighted that the switch better reflects the typical viewing format of spreadsheets and presentations.

The Google Drive icon received a more dramatic redesign. It now features rounded corners and has lost the distinctive red accent that previously sat at the bottom right corner. Google Keep, a note-taking app, shed its surrounding border entirely — the icon is now just a yellow light bulb floating on its own, a change that the original article’s author admitted will take some getting used to. Gmail’s icon remains largely recognizable but has been cleaned up, with a simpler envelope shape and fewer visual distractions.

The rollout is happening ahead of Google I/O, which kicks off on Tuesday. The conference is expected to showcase broader changes to Google’s ecosystem, potentially including further refinements to the Workspace visual identity. For users who rely on these apps daily, the new icons represent a subtle but noticeable shift in how Google presents its productivity tools — one that prioritizes consistency and clarity over legacy design cues.