Google has started rolling out a small but noticeable visual update to its Chat app on Android. The company has redesigned the Google Chat status bar icon to make it easier for users to distinguish it from Google Messages.

Previously, the two apps shared very similar notification icons, especially in the Android status bar where both appeared as small chat bubbles. While the apps use different colors on the home screen, the monochrome notification icons often looked nearly identical, leading to confusion for users who regularly switch between personal and work conversations.

To address this issue, Google has introduced a new outline-style icon for Chat. The updated design gives the icon a hollow appearance, making it easier to recognize at a glance and helping users quickly identify whether a notification comes from Chat or Messages.

The change is particularly useful for Workspace users and organizations that rely on Google Chat as their primary communication platform. Distinguishing between personal text messages and workplace conversations becomes much simpler with the updated icon design.

The new status bar icon is now available in Google Chat version 2026.06.01.x for Android. The update arrives shortly after Google completed the rollout of its refreshed Workspace app icons across Android devices.

Although the modification is relatively minor, it improves the overall user experience by reducing visual confusion and making notifications easier to identify.