First issues to do with Google Messages

The Google Messages app is a approach to chat with buddies, members of the family, and colleagues by way of textual content. Actually, you will have already been utilizing it because the default messaging app for Android and Put on OS units. Successfully Google’s reply to Apple’s iMessage service, Google Messages can leverage on the spot messaging, SMS, and RCS.

Whereas Google Messages, previously referred to as Android Messages, has technically been round for the final decade, there have been some notable upgrades. Wealthy Communication Providers (RCS), for instance, was added together with end-to-end encryption. Most just lately, Google Messages has been enhanced to operate akin to different on the spot messaging companies (assume WhatsApp and Sign) so you are able to do issues like begin group chats, ship emoji reactions, and extra.

Ship messages over Wi-Fi/knowledge with RCS

Google Messages RCS Chat features on a Pixel 6 — (Picture credit score: Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central)

With the RCS Chat characteristic in Google Messages, you’ll be able to ship free messages over Wi-Fi utilizing knowledge, ultimate for those who don’t have an lively mobile connection, like if in case you have turned off mobile whereas touring and also you’re counting on Wi-Fi alone. It’s fairly easy to allow RCS Chat in Google Messages.

1. Open Google Messages.

2. Go to Settings by choosing your profile icon on the highest proper.

3. Choose Messages settings.

4. Choose RCS chats.

5. Faucet the slider beside Activate RCS chats to the best to show it on.

6. You might be requested to Confirm your quantity.

Since RCS messaging requires having a cellphone quantity, you’ll be able to’t set this up on a cellphone that you simply’re utilizing in Wi-Fi mode solely with out a SIM card, like a tool you’ve got given to an older youngster to make use of. With out an lively mobile quantity, RCS messaging gained’t work. However with one, it’s a good way to proceed messaging if you flip off mobile knowledge whereas roaming or need to preserve your restricted quantity of voice calling minutes or SMS.

It’s additionally a greater various to SMS, as with all different on the spot messaging service, since your messages are despatched immediately with affirmation of receipt and you’ll have a seamless conservation with not only one however a number of folks. There’s additionally end-to-end encryptions with RCS messaging, so long as the particular person with whom your messaging is utilizing RCS Chat as effectively.

RCS messaging has been accessible within the U.S. in addition to the U.Okay. and Spain since 2019 and by the tip of 2020, it was made accessible worldwide.

Flip necessary conversations into movable bubbles

Google Messages

(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Bubbles takes an necessary textual content dialog and turns it right into a movable bubble that seems in your cellphone’s house display screen so you’ll be able to preserve updated with it always, and reply on the fly. It’s nice for necessary conversations so that you don’t miss a message and don’t must click on into the Google Messages app each time you have to learn the subsequent missive. Whether or not it’s a message string together with your partner, children, boss, and even your besties, it’s a good way to prioritize a dialog.

1. Open Google Messages.

2. Open Settings.

3. Choose Settings by way of your profile photograph on the prime proper.

4. Choose Messages settings.

5. Choose Bubbles.

6. Choose Chosen conversations can bubble (the wording is Chosen just for Samsung Galaxy units), or All conversations can bubble.

7. Return to the principle web page.

8. Await a message to reach within the dialog you need to bubble in Google Messages. As soon as it does, pull down from the highest of the cellphone to open the Notification window and faucet Historical past.

9. Discover the message and long-press it.

10. Faucet the slider to the best for Bubble this dialog to show it on.

google messages

(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Bubbles, it needs to be famous, will not be a part of RCS chat, so that you don’t must allow that as a way to use them. They’re simply a regular characteristic that has been accessible with Google Messages for a while. Additionally, you’ll be able to get rid of the previous couple of steps when utilizing a Samsung Galaxy cellphone, as these embody a small sq. with an arrow pointing to the underside proper nook and a message notification that means that you can immediately bubble it to your property display screen.

It’s additionally value noting that as a way to un-bubble a dialog, you have to reverse these steps and return to the Settings menu. You possibly can’t merely flick it away, so be picky about which conversations you bubble and persist with solely your most necessary dialog string.

Cut back picture sizes to ship extra rapidly

google messages send photos faster

(Picture credit score: Christine Persaud / Android Central)

Like different on the spot messaging companies, you’ll be able to ship extra than simply textual content and emojis by Google Messages. It’s also possible to ship images and movies. A characteristic launched final 12 months means that you can ship images utilizing RCS even quicker by cutting down decision. The trade-off is that the photograph is of decrease decision. However when you’ve got a sluggish Web or mobile connection, this lets you ship trip images, for instance, with out having to attend for a number of minutes earlier than they undergo. With this feature, in case you are experiencing decrease knowledge speeds, it’ll guarantee your images zip over to the recipient or recipients in report time.

1. Open Google Messages.

2. Open Settings by tapping in your profile image on the prime proper.

3. Choose Messages settings.

4. Activate Ship images quicker by tapping the slider to the best.

You may discover that the Ship images quicker possibility is definitely already on, because it’s on by default on some telephones. On this case, you’ve got already been having fun with it with out realizing it! If that’s the case, proceed doing what you’re doing and relaxation assured your images are being adjusted so that they ship as rapidly as doable. In any other case, if you wish to ship photos in greater decision, it is best to toggle it off.

Toggle Present expressive animations

Google Messages RCS chatting on a Pixel 4a.

(Picture credit score: Android Central)

Expressive Animations are a neat possibility in Google Messages, animating generally used emojis just like the thumbs up and down symbols, the laughing emoji, coronary heart, indignant, birthday, and extra. However many customers weren’t too eager on them popping up on a regular basis, particularly with these emojis that are usually used steadily in dialog. Earlier than you get began with Google Messages, you may need to toggle this off so it doesn’t make your on a regular basis conversations somewhat too expressive.

1. Open Google Messages.

2. Open Settings by tapping in your profile image on the prime proper.

3. Toggle Present expressive animations, relying on whether or not you need them on or off.

Be aware that this characteristic may not but be rolled out to your particular machine, relying on if you learn this. However do a fast verify, and if it’s there, go forward and switch it off and you discover it to be an excessive amount of. You possibly can at all times return and switch it on when you’re up for it. In an ideal world, Google would assist you to select which emoji develop into expressive animations, and such customization may doubtlessly be accessible sooner or later. Be aware that turning this characteristic off gained’t impression your Photomoji.

Clear up your message threads

Google Messages

(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

One Time Password (OTP) messages arrive with a particular momentary code that expires inside a couple of minutes. They will solely be used as soon as and are designed for two-factor authentication. You’ll typically see these from sources like a monetary establishment or when logging right into a safe web site of some sort. When you obtain an OTP message, chances are high you progress on to the duty at hand and neglect all about it. This could add to muddle in your Google Messages. Fortunately, there’s a straightforward approach to set it such that they delete after 24 hours, liberating up house in your cellphone and lowering muddle.

1. Open Google Messages.

2. Open Settings by tapping in your profile photograph on the prime proper nook.

3. Choose Message settings.

4. Go to Message group.

5. Flip Auto-delete OTPS after 24 hours to the on place by tapping the slider on the best.

Swipe left and proper

Pixel Google Messages Oops

(Picture credit score: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central)

With custom-made swipe gestures in Google Messages, you’ll be able to set what the app does if you swipe left or proper on a selected message. You possibly can have it do nothing for those who discover you typically inadvertently swipe if you don’t imply to, have it archive a message, and even merely delete it. First, you have to set this characteristic up.

1. Open Google Messages.

2. Choose Settings by way of your profile photograph within the prime proper.

3. Choose Message Settings.

4. Scroll down and choose Swipe actions.

5. Choose Customise for Swipe proper and choose what you need this motion to do.

6. Choose Customise for Swipe left and choose what you need this motion to do.

That’s it! From right here, cleansing up your Google Messages inbox develop into straightforward as pie with a easy swipe to the left or proper on every message.

Personalize your textual content bubbles with new colours

The Google Messages app open on a smartphone

(Picture credit score: Judy Sanhz / Android Central)

You possibly can personalize the look of textual content bubbles in Google Messages by altering the colour because of this characteristic that was added in late 2023. It means that you can swap a uninteresting shade for one thing brighter and bolder if desired, or possibly a extra muted hue for skilled conversations. This may be carried out by merely altering the theme in your cellphone, however Google Messages allows you to change bubble colours in particular person chats, too.

1. Open a dialog in Google Messages.

2. Faucet the three dots within the prime proper nook.

3. Faucet Change colours.

4. Choose the colour you want.

5. Choose Affirm.

You possibly can select from 9 shade choices, and the colour will change in your messages, with solely slight modifications for the receiving messages. Remember that this characteristic is just for RCS chats and should be rolling out to units.

Flip your pics into emojis

How to use Photomoji in Google Messages

(Picture credit score: Future)

Obtainable to be used with each SMS or RCS because it was introduced in late 2023 (the characteristic could not but be accessible for all Android units), you’ll be able to take a photograph out of your cellphone, flip it into an lovely Photomoji, then ship it to somebody in a Google Message. It’s straightforward to use Photomoji within the Google Messages app. These are created proper out of your photograph album, so there’s no third-party app wanted.

1. Open the Google Messages app.

2. Open a dialog window.

3. Choose the emoji icon.

4. Choose Create.

5. Select a picture out of your library.

6. The topic of the photograph might be extracted from the picture and became a Photomoji.

7. Choose Ship.

8. To make use of an already created Photomoji as a response inside a message, Lengthy-press on the message.

9. Choose the emoji icon.

10. Choose the Photomoji tab (you can too create a brand new Photomoji from right here by choosing Create as a substitute.)

11. Choose the Photomoji out of your library and Ship.

Using Photomoji as a rection in Google Messages

(Picture credit score: Future)

One factor to notice is which you could’t crop the picture, rotate it, or add filters, so it’s possible you’ll want to crop and/or rotate it in Pictures first to the precise look you need and save that model of the photograph as a duplicate to make use of for the needs of Photomoji. When you create and ship a Photomoji, will probably be saved as a sticker that you should use any time you need, expressing your self extra creatively than with simply plain textual content and even primary emojis.

Completely happy messaging!

Magic Compose in the Google Messages app making my text more Shakespearean

(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

After following these first issues to do with Google Messages, you’ll be off to the races with the moment messaging service for one of the best Android telephones. Remember that the steps could range barely in wording or choices relying on which model Android machine you might be utilizing. However typically, when you begin coming into the settings menus for Google Messages in every cellphone, you’ll be capable to observe this information to determine the place to go subsequent. All the following tips present a splendidly personalised expertise with Google Messages.

When you’re carried out, you can begin to do extra concerned duties, like setting message reminders, pinning your most necessary conversations, and exploring much more Google Messages ideas and methods. Go even additional with options like Magic Compose, which analyzes your historical past of messages that can assist you compose replies in dialog threads that match with what you have been seemingly about to sort. Genius!