Google regularly brings new UI updates and changes to its apps. This time, the company has rolled out a noticeable update in the Phone (Dialer) app. Earlier, when you opened the Dialer app, you could see three tabs at the bottom – Home (Recents/Calls), Keypad, and Contacts. But with the new update, Google has removed the Contacts tab completely.
For many users, this change feels confusing because they were used to directly accessing their contacts inside the Dialer app. Now, it seems Google wants users to manage contacts only through the separate Google Contacts app.
Why Did Google Remove the Contacts Tab?
Google’s focus is to give the Phone app a cleaner and simplified interface. The company wants the Dialer app to stay focused on calling and keypad functions, while the Google Contacts app handles contact management.
- After this update, the Dialer UI feels more minimal and faster.
- But for people who liked having everything (calls + contacts + keypad) in one place, it feels a little inconvenient.
Where Did the Contacts Tab Go?
You will no longer see the contacts tab at the bottom of the Dialer app. But there are ways to access it.
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How to Get the Contacts Tab Back?
If you preferred the old experience with the contacts tab inside the Phone app, unfortunately, the new update disables it. However, there’s a simple workaround:
1. Use the Google Contacts App
You can install and use the Google Contacts app to access your saved contacts. The same contacts you had in your Phone app will appear here since both apps stay synced.
- Install the “Google Contacts” app from Play Store.
- Here you’ll get all your contacts along with extra features like favorites, labels, and duplicate merging.
2. Install the Old Version (Not Recommended)
Some users try installing older APK versions of the Phone app to get the contacts tab back, but this is not recommended because older apps don’t receive the latest security updates.
Conclusion
This update has received mixed reactions. On one hand, it makes the Phone app faster and simpler. On the other hand, users now need to take an extra step by opening a separate app to access their contacts.
What do you think – did Google make the right move by removing the contacts tab, or should it have stayed inside the Dialer app?
