What Google Messages Features Are Rolling Out [April 2025]

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 4/13:

Still rolling out (beta)

These are Messages features that Google announced or have been spotted in the wild by beta users.

Expanded text field limit

After limiting the text box to just four lines, Google Messages is now letting the compose field get much taller. We’re seeing up to 14 lines on a Pixel 9a.

Camera + gallery merger/redesign + ‘Original quality’ sending

Google Messages has merged the live viewfinder with your camera roll. This new UI is what appears after tapping the “Gallery” icon in a conversation. When taking a new picture or video, you’ll always see 3-6 recent shots. Swiping up reveals more, while you can “Write a caption” before sending with the new preview screen.

In comparison, the existing image picker is more compact and keeps you in the conversation.

As part of this redesign, Google is rolling out the ability to send pictures and videos in “Original quality.” There are two media quality options when sending:

• Optimize for chat: Send quality media faster, uses less data — “HD”
• Original quality: Sends at full resolution — “HD+”

As of March, this is seeing wider availability, including for some stable users, but it is not yet fully launched.

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.

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

Dual SIM RCS support

More than one SIM card will appear as “Connected” in Settings > RCS chats. This will aid international RCS adoption. It started rolling out in January 2024 but was later pulled, with more reports this August. As of late October, many more people — including in the US and physical + eSIM — are getting it.

As of January 2025, more people are seeing dual SIM RCS enabled.

Always showing Magic Compose or Magic Rewrite in the row of suggested replies will aid visibility.

Double tap to heart

This is a straightforward shortcut that saves you from having to long-press on a message for the reactions row. Instead of the heart, some people have Double tap to thumbs-up.

RCS status indicator tweak

From “RCS message” to “(RCS)”: More

Recent launches (stable)

• Google Account Device pairing
• Magic Compose
• Photomoji
• Revamped Contact Details page 
• Reaction Effects
• Profiles
• Custom Bubbles and backgrounds
• Selfie GIF
• Single-line text field
• Voice recorder redesign with noise cancellation + Voice Moods
• Larger contact photos
• Show expressive animations
• New “Select recipients” conversation picker
• RCS photo with text caption redesign
• Full RCS Messages transfer on Pixel 9
• Group search in new conversations screen
• RCS message editing
• Gemini double FAB
• Camera face filters
• “Magic Rewrite” button
• ‘Your profile’ name and photo settings
• Custom profile pictures

[Updated] Text field redesign

As of March, Google Messages has widely rolled out the latest text-field redesign. It’s now a bit taller and left-aligned, with the ‘plus’ menu standing alone. At the right, you get shortcuts for Emoji and Gallery, while the Voice Memos icon is outside the pill.

Shortly after the redesign, Google widely rolled out a tweak that makes the text field taller to better align with Material 3. The send and audio button also grows as a result.

Improved media receiving performance

Google says it has “significantly” addressed “media receiving” issues in Messages that resulted in failures or slowdowns when receiving images/videos.

Real-time Scam Detection

Announced at the start of March, Google Messages will “flag conversational text patterns commonly associated with scams,” especially those that “seem harmless, but turn dangerous over time.”

This works on-device, with users seeing a “Scam Detection” card that says “Likely scam: Suspicious activity detected. Common scams often start this way.” You can “Report & block” or tap “Not a scam.” This new measure is part of the existing Google Messages Settings > Spam protection setting. It is “launching in English first in the U.S., U.K. and Canada and will expand to more countries soon.”

Screen Effects

They were first previewed in late November and made an appearance at the start of this year, particularly around Valentine’s Day but were pulled after that.

• Booo: Tomatoes, with at least three o’s required 
• Congratulations: Balloons and confetti
• Going to the beach: Waves + various objects
• Hahahaha: Tube man. Four ha’s required 
• Rise and shine: The sun, quite charming
• Halloween
• Happy Hanukkah
• Happy Thanksgiving
• Merry Christmas

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