New theme change? How to revert back to Material You?

gk7ncklxlts99w1

I have two Pixel 7's. One is on 2025112101, the other is on 2025110801 (not entirely sure why it hasn't received the more recent updates, I have been checking for them). After an update the one on the newer version has a new theme / UI style. It took me a minute to figure out what was responsible for this change, and I think this is the relevant line on the release page (it should be higher on the list):

System Updater, Sandboxed Google Play compatibility layer: switch to Material 3 Expressive theme for Settings app menus

So I'm guessing Material (2?) You was the previous theme? My question is, is there a way to revert back to the previous theme? I'm not a fan of this updated theme. The font looks like comic sans, who thought this was an improvement?

New theme:

https://ibb.co/m5sscpkJ
https://ibb.co/RkfjgZ0K
https://ibb.co/S7tCqvQd

Old theme:

https://ibb.co/4RRDKz7q
https://ibb.co/LhY9tWrG
https://ibb.co/PyrVrSm

23Sha-ger

Read the numerous threads from the past 2 days.
This is QPR1. People wanted it so badly and now they want to revert :)
Took me some time to get used as well, it's not that bad after all. More efficient on battery.
The old version won't receive updates any more so you will have to switch sooner or later.

nandohyphen1

23Sha-ger Took me some time to get used as well, it's not that bad after all. More efficient on battery.

Same here. And +1 for the battery life. It lasts WAY longer on a single charge! :)

gk7ncklxlts99w1

23Sha-ger

I attempted to search for relevant threads like "ui change" and "material 3 expressive" but I didn't find anything relevant or new. As I said in my post it was difficult to know exactly what change was responsible for it. QPR1 refers to the quarterly release generally and not specifically the theme change. Posts around QPR1 are not specific to the material change.

So, to answer my question, it is not possible to switch back to the old theme? Without using an old version of GrapheneOS.

nandohyphen1 I'm quite surprised that a UI change can possibly make that much of a difference to battery life.

de0u

gk7ncklxlts99w1 It is not possible to switch back to the old theme?

It isn't a "theme" in the sense of being selectable. It is the sole user interface for the Android 16 QPR1 release of AOSP. Because GrapheneOS is a fork of AOSP that focuses on security and privacy (as opposed to UI customization), it inherits the vast majority of changes that Google contributes to AOSP.

Approximately once a quarter the GrapheneOS UI is expected change in minor ways. Approximately once a year the GrapheneOS UI is expected to change in more-significant ways.

nandohyphen1

gk7ncklxlts99w1 I'm quite surprised that a UI change can possibly make that much of a difference to battery life.

Me too, I'm not quite sure how it does it, but from a full charge, my phone is lasting a heck of a lot longer. I'm totally not complaining though. I'll take a battery that lasts longer! :)

Upstate1618

No, it's impossible to revert UI changes because it's a part of the OS.

nandohyphen1

Upstate1618 When I first got the update this morning, I was a little like 'Woah, this is different! I'm not sure I like it!' But after a few hours of use, I really don't mind the UI changes that much. The status bar still bugs me a bit (looks too much like iPhone to me), but I'm sure I'll get used to it.

gk7ncklxlts99w1

nandohyphen1

The status bar is the one at the top that shows time, battery and network like 5G right? That's the part I dislike as well, everything else I can get used to. I find the percentage text for battery life is not as easy to read when juxtaposed against the yellow background.

nandohyphen1

gk7ncklxlts99w1 The status bar is the one at the top that shows time, battery and network like 5G right? That's the part I dislike as well,

Yep. Now it looks like iPhone! :/