Google Messages

Google LLC

About this app

Google Messages is the official Google app for messaging. Google Messages is revolutionizing how a billion users connect and is powered by Rich Communication Services (RCS), the industry standard for texting that replaces SMS and MMS. With RCS, you can share high resolution photos and videos, enjoy dynamic group chats, and seamlessly connect with other RCS users including your iPhone friends.

• Rich Communication: Share high-quality photos and videos, see when friends are typing, and enjoy dynamic group chats that now seamlessly include your iPhone friends.
• Personal Touch: Make conversations uniquely yours with features like custom chat bubble colors or fun selfie gifs.
• Privacy Matters: Rest easy knowing your personal chats are protected with end-to-end encryption between Google Messages users, so no one (including Google and third parties) can read or view your messages and attachments except the person you’re messaging. Plus, enjoy advanced spam protection.
• AI-Powered Messaging: Craft the perfect message with Magic Compose suggestions and our latest AI features.
• Seamless Across Devices: Start a chat on your phone and continue it effortlessly on your tablet or computer. The app is also available on Wear OS.

Google Messages is more than just messaging; it's a richer, safer, and more expressive way to connect.

App is also available on Wear OS. Availability of RCS varies by region and carrier and a data plan may be required. Availability of features varies by market and device and sign up for beta testing may be required.

Ratings and reviews

You have to completely uninstall and reinstall the app to get this stupid thing to work because of Google's incompetent updating techniques. Not doing so made the app almost unusable. My chat bubbles stopped using the phone settings and were huge, images and chats broken completely. Even then, some functions in the new version are just bad, like image viewing and sending. It's just a total mess. This is a case study in why "move fast and break things" is terrible from an end user perspective.

For how messaging apps go, it's okay. I was forced to switch messaging apps after the Message+ app was discontinued. I greatly miss the option to customize the background of each individual text thread and the ability to change the individual text tone for each person, as I used to have specific tones set for certain people. I also don't care for the fact that they limit you to 10 pictures allowed to be sent at a time. There's not enough room to list everything I wish was changed here.

New photo attachment feature does not respect "no auto rotate" settings on the phone. If you are using the app while phone is tilted and want to attach an image from your gallery, you can't. When the app detects the phone is on its side, it auto rotates the interface and only the camera shows. Poor testing. Use a separate button for camera. I've wanted to attach a live photo twice in 25 years of texting.

What’s new

• Bug fixes and stability improvements.