Skip to main content

Google Maps picks up a white navigation bar on Android 8.1

Android 8.1 brings a handful of nice tweaks to Oreo, but some of the best ones directly relate to issues with the Pixel 2 XL. One of those is the tweaked navigation bar which can now invert its colors and dim the buttons. Now, Google Maps has been updated to take advantage of that.

Following in the footsteps of Gmail a couple of weeks ago, Google Maps for Android now swaps to an inverted navigation bar on Android 8.1, leaving the background white and the buttons a grey color. This suits Maps light design quite well, so we’re glad to see the change, especially as Maps is an app that users leave on screen for a while. Changing to this color scheme should certainly help out with burn-in complaints on the Pixel 2 XL.

However, Google Maps doesn’t only have a light theme, as it changes to darker colors when the sun sets. As Android Police points out in a screenshot (below), the nav bar swaps back to the standard black color when the app’s theme switches as well.

To check out these changes for yourself, you’ll need to be using a device running on top of the Android 8.1 developer preview, and you’ll also need to update the Maps application on Google Play.


Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Ben Schoon Ben Schoon

Ben is a Senior Editor for 9to5Google.

Find him on Twitter @NexusBen. Send tips to schoon@9to5g.com or encrypted to benschoon@protonmail.com.


Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications