Google Drive is adopting a new two-page layout on large screens, such as foldable phones and tablets. This is a significant improvement over the current layout, which simply extends the same portrait UI to fit landscape displays.
This new two-page layout option was spotted by @AssembleDebug on foldable using the current version. version (v2.23.397.0) found on the Play Store. This appears to be a beta test currently underway, so your mileage may vary. If the feature is available, you’ll see a new button at the top right of the document viewer (just before the three-dot menu), which you can tap to trigger this view.
The new layout will make it much easier to quickly read or scan documents on large-screen devices. For example, users will be able to see two consecutive pages side by side, making it easier to compare and contrast between different parts of a document. Additionally, the new layout will allow users to view more content on the screen at once, reducing the need to scroll up and down the screen.
Single or double page layout in Google Drive on a foldable device (Image source: Phone Arena)
The dual-page layout option is a significant change for the Drive app for Android, as it addresses a long-standing complaint from foldable device users. The portrait-only layout simply wasn’t suited to large-screen devices and made it difficult to navigate between different pages of a document.
There is currently no known timetable for the two-page layout that will become widely available. However, it’s likely that the feature will roll out to all users in a future update to the Google Drive app, a welcome improvement for users who rely on Google Drive for productivity on large-screen devices.
