The Google Duo icon is back on Android

In an interesting series of events today, most likely a bug, an update to Google Meet (formerly the Duo app) on Android will bring the Google Duo icon back. As such, you now have two ways to launch the same app.

In merging its two video calling services into one, Google deemed the surviving brand “Meet”. In terms of implementation, however, the Google Duo app is the one left over on everyone’s phone, and it’s been updated with a new home screen and features from both services. This is because Duo has a much larger install base (5 billion vs 500 million).

In early August, an update (172) began rolling out that replaced the blue Duo icon and introduced a four-color version of Meet. After updating and opening the app, Duo will disappear from the launcher.

For some reason, today’s version 173 brings back the Google Duo icon. Thus, you have both Duo and Meet logos in your app drawer, both are active to launch the new unified Meet-Duo experience.

Update: Google let us know this evening that they intentionally brought back the Duo icon with this update on Android. It is meant to help people who search/type “Duo” to launch the app. The company is working to make upgrades easier for end users.

It was a messy event and most likely an error from Google. For regular users of the service, the company explained the transition through a prominent screen and banner that you have to interact with to dismiss.

That said, it’s possible the company is finding enough confusion that this change isn’t an accident. (People are expressing their anger about this move on Meet listings.)

Google has yet to update Duo’s Play Store listing with the new branding. The company is also planning to update duo.google.com with the Meet branding. Meanwhile, the Meet app has a green icon to indicate that it will eventually be phased out for business users, though that initial experience remains in Gmail as its own tab. .

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