Google Keep’s September 2026 redesign changes the Android Note collection home-screen widget, but it does not make note creation a one-tap action: the old row of direct shortcuts is replaced by a floating action button that opens a menu, adding a tap. The trade-off is a roomier, edge-to-edge layout that 9to5Google reports shows more of each note.
What changed in the Google Keep widget?
In a report dated September 17, 2026, 9to5Google described a redesign of Keep’s Note collection widget for Android. The previous design placed note-creation shortcuts in a sidebar on the right. Those shortcuts covered text notes, lists, audio notes, drawings, and photo notes.
The redesigned widget removes that sidebar and puts a circular floating action button in its place. Tapping the button opens a pop-up menu of creation options. That means choosing a note type from this widget takes an extra tap compared with selecting a direct shortcut in the old layout. The menu behavior is similar to Keep’s smaller Quick capture widget.
The widget now uses the space edge to edge. 9to5Google reports that the layout can show more of each note and reduces the empty area that could be especially noticeable when the widget was set to full width. The report said version 5.26.365.x was rolling out through the Play Store; it does not establish that every user or device received the update at the same time.
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#1 Best Overall
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
Which Google Keep widget fits your home screen?
Google documents three Keep widgets for Android: Note collection, Quick capture, and Single note. The right choice depends on whether you want to see saved notes or start a new one quickly.
| Widget | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Note collection | Shows a group of notes. You can set it to show all notes, pinned notes, or notes under a selected label. The September 2026 redesign discussed above concerns this widget. |
| Quick capture | Provides a home-screen route for quickly creating a note. Google identifies it as the widget for quick note creation. |
| Single note | Displays one note you choose, keeping that note visible on the home screen. |
If you mainly want to browse several existing notes, choose Note collection. If your priority is starting a fresh note, Quick capture is the more direct fit. To keep one particular note in view, use Single note.
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How to add Google Keep Quick capture to an Android home screen
Google’s Android widget instructions cover adding Keep widgets. Keep must be installed, and Google says these widgets are available on Android, not iOS.
- Long-press an empty area of your Android home screen.
- Tap Widgets.
- Find Google Keep in the widget list.
- Select the Keep widget you want, such as Quick capture, and place it on the home screen.
Make the in-app Create button open a text note
The home-screen widget redesign is separate from a setting inside the Keep app. To make the app’s Create button open a text note with one tap, Google’s Keep instructions say to open Settings, go to Note creation, and turn on Create text notes by default. You can still long-press Create to make other note types.
Rank #3
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Keep’s other September 2026 change
The widget redesign is also separate from Google’s September 1, 2026 announcement about bringing Keep into Google Messages. In that announcement, Google said users would be able to create or edit shared notes and lists within chats, with rollout starting that day. It is a different feature from the Android home-screen widget change.
Google Play’s Keep app listing describes features including widgets, shared notes, labels, search, reminders, and syncing across phones, tablets, computers, and Wear OS devices. The listing showed an update date of September 21, 2026, but did not identify which features that update contained.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Charger NOT Included, 6.7" Super AMOLED FHD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 385 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px, 5000mAh Battery
- 128GB, 4GB RAM, microSDXC, Exynos 1330 (5nm), Octa-Core, Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
- 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
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