All articles tagged with #google messages
Google Messages appears to be testing a smarter sharing flow that adds a 'Send to a group' option alongside 'Send separately' when sharing to multiple recipients. The feature can reuse an existing group chat if the selected contacts already form one, and it warns you to remove MMS numbers if you mix RCS and MMS. It seems to be a limited, server-side rollout, so it may not be visible to all users yet.
Google Messages is testing a new sharing flow that lets you send a message or photo to multiple contacts more easily by choosing 'Send to a group' or 'Send separately' and creating a group on the fly; if the recipients are already in a chat, it opens that chat instead. The feature appears in server-side tests and isn't widely available yet, as Google continues to migrate users from Samsung Messages.
Samsung Messages has been discontinued in the US as of July 6, 2026, with users prompted to switch to Google Messages. The migration reportedly transfers message history and makes Google Messages the default app to access RCS features; Google Messages adds a Chat Themes feature, though some Samsung-specific features may be missing. A Samsung support page confirms the shutdown date for devices on Android 12+.
Google Messages is rolling out Chat Themes to beta users, letting you customize chat backgrounds with colors, pre-set images, or your own photo. To access it, enroll in the Google Messages beta, update the app, open a thread, tap the three-dot menu, and select Chat theme to apply a chosen background or image.
Google Messages is adding a new 'Tap to Draft' option that lets you edit Smart Reply suggestions before sending. After being tested as 'Tap to edit' and later renamed, the feature is now available in the latest stable Android build (version 20260522_00_RC00). Enable it in Settings > Messages > Suggestions & Actions > Suggestions, then choose between 'Tap to Send' (auto-send) or 'Tap to Draft' (edit before sending).
ZDNet’s Elyse Betters Picaro lays out nine practical Google Messages tweaks for a new Android phone to keep texting clean, private, and distraction-free: disable Sensitive Content Warnings and SafetyCore, limit Google profile sharing, turn off Gemini and any suggestions, auto-delete one-time codes after 24 hours, keep RCS on but disable read receipts and typing indicators, enable voice message transcriptions, hide lock-screen previews, and disable chat bubbles. Note Gemini chats aren’t end-to-end encrypted and some options vary by device or region.
Samsung will deactivate Samsung Messages for US users in July, and chat histories won’t transfer automatically. To preserve conversations and take advantage of RCS features, spam protection, and multi‑device syncing, users should manually switch to Google Messages before the deadline. The migration is simple but requires user action; older Galaxy Watches on Tizen may lose full conversation history, while Wear OS watches will still access conversations. Android 11 or older devices are not affected by the end of service but migrating is still advised.
The latest Google Messages beta adds per-chat customization, including color options and wallpapers via a new Chat Themes feature. Users can access it in a chat’s settings under Chat Themes and can pick a photo for wallpapers, signaling a near-rollout on Android after earlier code hints and beta testing.
Google Messages is adding support for custom chat wallpapers, including animated GIFs, and Android Authority previews how wallpapers look in dark mode. The feature isn’t live in beta yet, but appears close to rollout based on early testing and APK teardowns.
Samsung will retire Samsung Messages for US users in July 2026 with little to no grace period; to preserve chat history, switch to Google Messages now, which offers RCS features, AI spam detection, multi-device access, and Gemini AI features. To migrate, download Google Messages and set it as the default SMS app. Note that older Android versions (11 or lower) and some older Galaxy Watch models may have limited compatibility, and after the sunset, unmigrated conversations will be lost and only emergency messages will work on Samsung Messages.
Google Messages’ latest beta adds per-chat themes with customizable color palettes and new wallpaper backgrounds, offering galleries or the option to use your own photo, plus a reset to defaults as the feature nears wider rollout.
Samsung will retire the Samsung Messages app in July 2026 across the US, prompting users to switch to Google Messages for SMS/MMS/RCS. Google Messages offers typing indicators, higher‑quality media, multi‑device access, and Gemini AI features, and Samsung provides instructions to migrate. To switch, download Google Messages and set it as the default SMS app; Android 11+ users are unaffected but are advised to migrate. Older Galaxy Watch (Tizen) users may lose full chat history, while Wear OS watches will retain full conversations. Exact July date isn’t specified, and emergency messaging remains available after deactivation.
Samsung will deactivate its legacy Messages app in July, making the move to Google Messages mandatory to keep your chats. The switch unlocks RCS features, better group chats, higher‑quality media, and AI spam detection, but older Galaxy Watches may lose full conversation history, and some caveats apply for older devices.
Samsung will discontinue its Messages app in the US for Android 12+ devices this July (Android 11 and older are unaffected). Google Messages is the recommended replacement and now supports RCS with features like Wi‑Fi texting, high‑quality media sharing, typing indicators, read receipts, and end‑to‑end encryption. Other viable options include WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, and Signal, each offering different trade-offs in security, features, and cross‑device use.
Samsung is quietly phasing out Samsung Messages in the U.S., with a July 2026 cutoff and a shift toward Google Messages to standardize RCS. Newer Galaxy devices already default to Google Messages, while Samsung Messages becomes less available. The change is real but not uniformly announced, creating room for scam texts; the guidance is to verify via official sources, set Google Messages as the default SMS app, ensure chat history transfers, and take steps to reduce personal data exposure to deter scams.