Earlier this week, Google Keep for Android replaced its bottom bar with a FAB (floating action button). It’s objectively a small design change, but I’m certainly feeling it every time I open the app to create a new note.
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Yes, it’s now two taps, but the thing that’s getting me is having to move my finger up for that second press. When blindly navigating Keep in recent days, I’ve found myself tapping the FAB again thinking I’ve missed the first time. This just means I have to tap again since the menu is now closed.
I do think I’ll get used to this change and I do like the other introduced benefits.
To me, the most important part of Google Keep is its sticky notes-esque grid. This two-column view is highly glanceable and means I don’t have to open anything. For the most part, I never have to scroll with everything I need to be aware of already in frame from app launch. The removal of the bottom bar does show more information and that’s not nothing.
The FAB menu for adding something is also consistent with Google’s other productivity apps, including Calendar and Tasks. In comparison, the old bottom bar looked out of place with Material 3.
While Keep is not a priority for Google, it’s not abandoned either with 1+ billion downloads on Android. In 2024, it got a pretty big tablet and foldable update that lets you resize the dual-pane layout. It makes Keep one of Google’s best large screen-optimized apps. (Similarly, Keep for Wear OS is also a standout from its Tile to complications.) Speaking of that big form factor, “handwritten notes” are on the way, while we’re still waiting for the floating notes chat head and lock screen notes:
- Welcome to handwritten notes: “Now you can use handwriting, images, and text to sketch, doodle, brainstorm, and capture all your ideas. Works great with a stylus or touch.”
- Welcome to Keep floating notes: “Click the stylus to capture ideas from anywhere. Collect information with the screenshot tool.”
- Welcome to Keep lock screen notes: “Capture thoughts straight from your lock screen. Keep will save them for you. By default we make a new note each time. If you want to have the same note appear each time, go to settings in the Keep app.”
Phone users this year got “Help me create a list” (which, sure) and a Gemini Extension. There’s also the promise that Keep reminders will appear in Google Tasks and Calendar, with location functionality remaining. That was announced in April as coming “over the next year.” It’s taking a while to arrive.
Towards the end of last year, we got text formatting on Android, while the web got a basic version history.
I’ve made my peace with Google Keep just getting the occasional update. From how I use the mobile app, the core, if not original, feature set is enough. Outside of that, the Wear OS client is really quite nice, and I do use the Keep side panel in Workspace apps like Gmail and Calendar a lot.
On the flip-side, I know others bemoan the lack of richer functionality. In comparison, the Apple Notes on iOS is so much more productivity-focused:
Along those lines, one thing I’d find interesting is if Keep was how Google brought the Pixel Recorder’s transcription capability to all Android devices. Gemini-powered search — a la Pixel Screenshots — would also be exciting. A smaller thing would be keep.google.com getting a Material 3 overhaul, like Calendar recently.
What are your top feature requests for Google Keep? Sound off in the comments below.
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