Facebook rolls out major app redesign with New feed, Smarter search, and updated navigation tools

Facebook has rolled out a major redesign featuring a cleaner feed, improved navigation, grid-style search results, and a smarter discovery algorithm aimed at boosting meaningful engagement and easier content exploration across the app.

Facebook is introducing a new mobile app update today which brings an overhauled design to its feed, search, navigation and content-creation interfaces – as well as a new discovery algorithm.

The new design focusses on a tidier interface that will give Facebook’s core services a “simpler and more immersive” experience for users.

This means that when posting multiple images, the layout will display content in a grid for easier browsing. The new feed supports full-screen media viewing, double-tap-to-like photos and has a simplified design that borrows elements from Instagram.

Facebook’s navigation bar is being redesigned too. Tabs like Home, Reels, Friends, Marketplace, Notifications and Profile will be displayed in a single bar at the bottom of the screen, making it easier to navigate between the different areas of the app.

The search interface will also be updated to display results in a grid layout, supporting different content types in the results. Facebook is also testing a “full-screen viewer” that allows users to view photo and video search results directly – a design that aligns with the shift to content-focused social apps.

The discovery algorithm is also being revamped. The new logic surfaces new friends to connect with based on mutual interests – like favourite shows, music, places, and hobbies. Users can toggle which interests appear on their profile to help the algorithm identify and recommend similar people.

Facebook documents seen by The Verge – as well as recent reporting on the 2025 algorithm – suggest the platform will increasingly prioritise content that elicits high-quality interactions, like long-form comments, shares, and active discussion – over passive scrolling and engagement signals like likes.

In general the algorithm is designed to boost posts based on content type, recency, author and user behaviour. It also elevates posts from friends and creators that users engage with most – so frequently commented on or reacted to posts will surface higher in the feed.

Facebook content creators – especially those that post long-form, video-first content (like Reels) or regularly comment on or share other’s posts – will likely see the most impact from this update. Video-first content and discussion-heavy posts may now reach higher than they have previously. As such, anyone who uses the platform for outreach, business or community building may benefit from posting original, shareable content that invites more active participation and engagement.

Facebook says more updates to its algorithm, discovery logic and supported content types will be arriving over the coming months.

To summarise, Facebook’s latest update brings a unified, media-focused interface, easier navigation and an algorithm that better surfaces relevant people and content. It’s likely that both users and content creators will need to adapt to keep up with changes to the platform which means creating richer, interactive content and building social connections around shared interests.