Google preps eight individual collections widgets – streamlining your home screen

Google is about to overhaul the way you access your favorite apps and content on your Android phone, ditching the current two-widget Collections setup for a suite of eight dedicated widgets.

A more focused approach to collections

For a couple of years, Google has offered a Collections feature within the Play Store, grouping similar apps into categories like Food, Games, Listen, Read, Shop, Social, Travel, and Watch. Currently, users are limited to just two widgets displaying these categories – a compact offering that sometimes feels a bit…sparse.

But the big reveal is coming: Google intends to roll out eight individual widgets, each dedicated to a specific Collections category. This means no more tapping a single widget and then navigating through a list to find the exact app you're looking for. It’s a shift towards greater efficiency and a more intuitive user experience.

From two icons to a full gallery

Right now, the existing widgets showcase just four of the seven categories – Watch, Game, Read, and Listen – arranged as a 4x1 grid. A long press and stretch expands the widget to 4x2, adding icons for Food, Shop, and Social, and you can even stretch it to fill the entire screen, displaying all seven icons vertically.

The upcoming change will completely flip that dynamic. Each widget will represent a single category, offering immediate access to the relevant apps and content. Imagine having a dedicated ‘Food Collections’ widget – a simple tap and you’re instantly browsing recipes and restaurant recommendations.

A streamlined flow

This shift, uncovered by Android Authority, is driven by version 52.1.26-31 of the Play Store app. Essentially, Google is moving away from a generalized Collections view to a more granular, category-specific approach. It’s a move that promises to significantly reduce the number of taps required to find what you need.

Currently, accessing any Collection category requires tapping the existing widget and then selecting the desired icon. With the new individual widgets, all you’ll need to do is tap the relevant icon on your home screen – a single, direct path to your favorite apps and content. It’s a subtle but impactful improvement that speaks volumes about Google’s commitment to simplifying the Android experience. The rollout is expected in the near future, though a precise timeline remains undisclosed.