Google has rolled out a significant update to its document scanning capabilities within the Google Drive app on Android, delivering a more polished and practical experience for users who rely on mobile devices for digitizing receipts, forms, contracts, and other paperwork.
The update, which aligns with Google’s Material 3 design language, introduces new editing tools, UI improvements, and workflow enhancements, but it is currently exclusive to Android—a decision that has disappointed many in the iOS community.
What’s changed?
With the new update, Google Drive now offers a more robust suite of scanning and editing tools directly inside the Android app. Users can crop and rotate scanned images, apply color filters for better readability, erase unwanted shadows, and make various other visual adjustments that help produce clearer, more professional-looking scans.
These features significantly reduce reliance on third-party editing apps, streamlining the document management workflow for personal, professional, and business users.
Larger page previews have also been implemented, which make it easier to assess scan quality before saving it to the cloud. This is particularly useful for users scanning multi-page documents, as they can now quickly review results and ensure every page meets their needs before completing the process.
Additionally, Google has included dedicated buttons for deleting or retaking specific pages, allowing for rapid corrections without restarting the entire scan session.
Material 3 Design and Improved Navigation
The latest UI changes bring the Google Drive scanning interface in line with Google’s broader Material 3 design initiative, known for its cleaner layouts, expressive color palettes, and increased accessibility.
Users now navigate a new thumbnail carousel for multi-page documents, which enables quick flipping, reordering by dragging and dropping, and more intuitive browsing.
The visual refresh is intended to create a more cohesive experience across all Google services, especially for Android users who already interact daily with Material 3 elements in the operating system and other Google apps.
Cloud and Cross-Platform Consistency
Despite the Android focus, Google Drive’s document scanning features on iOS had previously received some functional upgrades, such as automatic capture and the ability to crop and import images, in late 2023.
However, iOS users have not received the full suite of editing tools or the latest Material 3 design overhaul, and Google has not announced when, or if at all, these features will arrive on Apple devices.
This gap is particularly noticeable as Android users now benefit from a faster, more accurate, and visually refined scanning workflow, positioning Android as the preferred platform for seamless mobile scanning and editing.
Availability and Rollout
The updated features and redesigned interface have been rolling out to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts as of early September 2025. Rollout is occurring gradually, with most Android users expected to see the new interface by mid-September.
