Like most Google apps, Messages A/B tests many features. However, it takes the RCS/SMS client a rather long time to actually launch these capabilities in stable even after they are announced. From various reports, Google itself, and devices we’ve checked, this is the current state of Messages.
Update 8/31:
Still rolling out (beta)
These are Messages features that Google announced or have been spotted in the wild by beta users.
[New] Key Verifier
As previewed in May, Key Verifier will “help protect you from scammers who try to impersonate someone you know” in Google Messages. This tool lets you “verify the identity of the other party through public encryption keys.” These contact keys take the form of a QR code that will be available in the Google Contacts app.
For example, if an attacker gains access to a friend’s phone number and uses it on another device to send you a message – which can happen as a result of a SIM swap attack – their contact’s verification status will be marked as no longer verified in the Google Contacts app, suggesting your friend’s account may be compromised or has been changed.
In Messages, go to the Details page and tap Verify encryption to get “Your QR code” or “Scan contact’s QR code.”
MLS encryption
Universal Profile 3.0 adds support for the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol that makes possible cross-platform (Android-iOS) RCS that is end-to-end encrypted (E2EE).
You can check whether this is live for a conversation by long-pressing on a message and opening the redesigned Details page. The portion relevant to MLS is the “Encryption Protocol” section. Value “0” is the existing E2EE, while value “1” is the upcoming approach.
Standalone gallery
Google is addressing a complaint about the fullscreen camera and gallery redesign introduced in June by letting users access the latter separately. You can open the ‘plus’ menu for a new “Gallery” grid that takes up the entire screen. “Camera” opens the existing combined interface.
The shortcut at the end of the text box will presumably remain unchanged as the default.
Image viewer redesign
Google is testing a revamp of how images appear in a thread, with photos sent at the same time now grouped together. The fullscreen image viewer has also been redesigned with a blurred background and preview of the last and next image, while you can react from the new bottom row.
Read receipts redesign
Following the last redesign in early 2023, another revamp places read receipts in a circle at the bottom-right corner of message bubbles (and images).You swipe left to see all timestamps and the end-to-end encryption status, while you swipe left to reply/quote a message. This started rolling out in August 2024, with more people receiving it in November.
| Ellipsis | Sending |
| Single check with ring | Sent |
| Double check with ring | Delivered |
| Double check solid circle | Read |
In January 2025, Google tweaked the design to make the circular background white. In no longer matching the bubble color, the read receipts stand out a great deal more.
L-R: Current, redesign, latest
Recent launches (stable)
[New] Material 3 Expressive redesign
Like the homepage, the chat interface is now its own container with rounded corners at the top. Google has removed the bubbly backgrounds for solid colors. The ‘plus’ menu is its own container with larger pills that lack any background color.
The Emoji, GIFs, Stickers, and Photomoji pickers make use of connected button groups, with that row and the search bar flipped. As such, you don’t have back-to-back text fields.
Old vs. new
The “Search messages” page has been redesigned with heavy use of containers.
That’s also the case in the “New chat” contacts list, and Settings.
A small tweak sees the Call, Video, Contact info, and Search buttons become pills. In comparison, the previous circles were under-sized.
[New] Wear OS app redesign
Ahead of the big Wear OS 6 redesign on the Pixel Watch, Google Messages is getting modernized. The changes are subtle, with the homescreen barely changing save for the bolder “Start chat” at the top. There’s also a new keypad.
The conversation view sees the bulk of updates with emoji, microphone, and keyboard now pills placed inside a container. The suggested replies (Yes, No, OK) are grouped together instead of being standalone buttons. This redesign is using the new read receipts.
[New] Sensitive Content Warnings
This safety feature blurs images “that may contain nudity” with the ability to delete them before viewing. It also reminds “users of the risks of sending nude imagery and preventing accidental shares” before they send or forward something that may contain nudity.
Sensitive Content Warnings work on-device (via Android System SafetyCore), with no “classified content or results” sent to Google. Those over 18 can optionally enable it from Messages Settings > Protection & Safety > Manage sensitive content warnings.
Details page redesign
Instead of a pop-up, Details is now a fullscreen page. To access, long-press on a text/chat > three-dot overflow menu > View details. Making use of Material 3 Expressive’s containers, it starts with a nice large preview of the message. Next is a “Status” section that makes use of the read receipts even if they don’t appear anywhere else in the app. “From” rounds things out.
Old vs. new
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