The status bar is one of Android’s oldest features. While other settings in the operating system have been updated, this section retains the icon-based design we’ve seen for over a decade. Google wants to change that, and is already testing an option in Android 15 that may bother most purists.
In accordance with Android Authority, Google will let you change the icons that appear in your status bar. The Android 15 source code contains references to an option that replaces system icons with ones that better match the design of the app. Users will be able to choose from several options, including a colored version of each icon in the status bar or ones that appear when you enable the Always-On Display feature.
According to the report, Android 15 will let you choose between regular notification icons and color or monochrome versions. The first ones are identical to those we see today on our terminal, and they keep it sober so as not to distract the user. On the other hand, the color option shows tiny versions of each app’s iconshow they appear on the main screen.
Colored icons can be used to identify the app a notification belongs to, however They lose legibility when displayed at such a small size.The monochrome version is the least recommended, as some icons lack sufficient contrast and blend into the background.
Android 15 Wants to Change Notification Icons
The icon changes in Android 15 can be found in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) source code. Whether this is being tested or implemented in the final version, the good news is that the user will have an alternative: keep classic status bar.
If the current design seems boring to you, you can choose an option based on the appearance of the icons on the home screen. In any case, you should know that the new icons apply not only to the status bar, but also to also in the notification tray and when the screen is always on. The latter may cause problems since all icons are monochrome.
Another important detail is that not all references present in the source code will be applicable to the final version of Android 15. Some featuresThey are experimental and may appear in Android 16. or simply disappear in future updates. One thing is clear: Google is determined to update some old sections of Android, whether we like it or not.
Source: Hiper Textual
I’m Ben Stock, a highly experienced and passionate journalist with a career in the news industry spanning more than 10 years. I specialize in writing content for websites, including researching and interviewing sources to produce engaging articles. My current role is as an author at Gadget Onus, where I mainly cover the mobile section.
