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Google Messages

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Google Messages
DeveloperGoogle
ReleaseAndroid: 2014; 12 years ago (2014)
Web: 2018; 8 years ago (2018)
Wear OS: 2014; 12 years ago (2014)
Stable release(s) [±]
Android20260727_03_RC00 / August 3, 2026; 3 months ago (2026-08-03)[1][2]
Wear OS20260731_00_RC01 / August 8, 2026; 3 months ago (2026-08-08)[1][3]
Preview release(s) [±]
Android20260807_01_RC00 / August 10, 2026; 3 months ago (2026-08-10)[1][4]
Wear OS20260803_03_RC00 / August 8, 2026; 3 months ago (2026-08-08)[1][5]
Operating systemAndroid 8+, Wear OS, web
Discontinued
PredecessorVarious
License
Websitemessages.google.com Edit this at Wikidata

Google Messages[6] (formerly known as Messenger, Android Messages, and Messages by Google) is a text messaging software application developed by Google for its Android and Wear OS mobile operating systems. It is also available as a web app.

Google's official universal messaging platform for the Android ecosystem, Messages employs SMS, MMS, and Rich Communication Services (RCS). Starting in 2023, Google has RCS activated by default on participating Android devices,[7] similar to the implementation of iMessage on Apple devices.[8] Samsung Messages was discontinued on July 6, 2026, for the US market, with Samsung transitioning users to Google Messages as the default messaging application.[9][10]

History

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The original code for Android SMS messaging was released in 2009 integrated into the operating system.[11] It was released as a standalone application independent of Android with the release of Android 5.0 Lollipop in 2014, replacing Google Hangouts as the default SMS app on Google's Nexus line of phones.[12]

In 2018, Messages adopted RCS messages and evolved to send larger data files, sync with other apps, and even create mass messages.[13] This was in preparation for when Google launched Messages for web.[14]

In December 2019, Google began to introduce support for Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging via an RCS service hosted by Google, referred to in the user interface as "chat features".[15] This was followed by a wider global rollout throughout 2020.[16]

The app surpassed 1 billion installs in April 2020,[17] doubling its number of installs in less than a year.[18]

Initially, RCS did not support end-to-end encryption.[15] In June 2021, Google introduced end-to-end encryption in Messages by default using the Signal Protocol, for all one-to-one RCS-based conversations,[19][20][21][22] for all RCS group chats in December 2022 for beta users,[23][24] and for all RCS users by August 2023, as well as enabling RCS for all users by default to encourage encryption.[25] In July 2023, Google announced it would build the Message Layer Security (MLS) end-to-end encryption protocol into Google Messages.[26]

Beginning with the Samsung Galaxy S21, Messages replaces Samsung's in-house Messages app as the default text messaging app for One UI for some regions and carriers.[27] In April 2021, the app began to receive UI modifications on Samsung devices to follow aspects of One UI, including pushing the top of the message list towards the middle of the screen to improve ergonomics.[28][29]

In February 2023, Google began to replace references to "chat features" in the Messages user interface with "RCS".[30] In August 2023, Google announced that Messages will use RCS by default for all users unless they opt out, to allow them to benefit from secure messaging.[25] In December 2023, with the arrival of several new features, the app was renamed "Google Messages".[6]

In July 2024, Samsung announced it would no longer pre-install Samsung Messages on its Galaxy devices in some regions, starting with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip, favoring Google Messages instead.[31][32]

In April 2026, Samsung announced that Samsung Messages would be discontinued on July 6, 2026, for the US market only. It encouraged users to switch to Google Messages.[9][10]

Features

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Some of the most important features in Google Messages are:[33]

  • Send instant text and voice messages in 1:1 or group chat conversations over mobile data and Wi-Fi, via Android, Wear OS or the web.
  • End-to-end encryption for RCS chats.[25]
  • Typing, sent, delivered and read status
  • Reply and react to specific messages
  • Share files and high-resolution photos
  • Voice message transcriptions
  • Schedule messages
  • In-app reminders for birthdays and messages you didn't respond to after some time with Nudges[34]
  • Tight integration with the Google ecosystem, e.g. Google Calendar,[34] Meet,[35] Maps,[36] YouTube,[37] Photos,[38] Contacts, Assistant,[39] Search, Safe Browsing etc.
  • Web interface: Users can visit https://messages.google.com/web and either sign in with their Google account or scan the QR code that is shown with their smartphone to access a limited web version of the app that allows them to send and receive messages, provided the smartphone remains connected.[40]
  • Phone number recognition: The app shows the country and province of the caller. Additionally, it can show the company's name or a warning for spam calls if the number is registered in a data base.[41]
  • Access to the Gemini chatbot on select Pixel, Galaxy and Android devices.[42] (Only for users over 18)

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "Google Messages". Google Play. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Google Messages 20260727_03_RC00". APKMirror. August 3, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Google Messages (Wear OS) 20260731_00_RC00". APKMirror. August 8, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Google Messages 20260807_01_RC00 beta". APKMirror. August 10, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Google Messages (Wear OS) 20260803_03_RC00 beta". APKMirror. August 8, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Li, Abner (December 1, 2023). "'Messages by Google' is now just 'Google Messages'". 9t5oGoogle. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  7. ↑ Li, Abner (August 8, 2023). "Google Messages turning on RCS by default, group E2E encryption launches". 9to5Google. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  8. ↑ Sattelberg, Will (October 20, 2022). "Google is making Messages even more like iMessage, but still won't get you that blue bubble". Android Police. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Samsung Messages Discontinued". Samsung US. April 7, 2026. Archived from the original on April 9, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Samsung Messages shuts down in favor of Google Messages on July 6 [U]". 9to5Google. July 2, 2026. Archived from the original on July 3, 2026.
  11. ↑ Ciurana, Eugene (March 22, 2009). Developing with Google App Engine. Apress. ISBN 978-1-4302-1832-6.
  12. ↑ "Google: The New "Messenger" App In Android 5.0 Is A Stock SMS/MMS Solution, Not A Hangouts Replacement / Rebrand". Android Police. October 15, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  13. ↑ US patent US10162817B2, Benny Schlesinger, Hen Fitoussi, Avichai COHEN, Yuval Pinchas Borsutsky, Eldar Cohen, William Ramsey, Delia Koren, "Computer messaging bot creation", issued December 25, 2018, assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
  14. ↑ Villas-Boas, Antonio. "Android users who are jealous of iMessage need to know about Google's 'Messages for web' service, which lets you text from almost any computer". Business Insider.
  15. 1 2 Haselton, Todd (December 18, 2019). "Google makes texting on Android more like Apple's iMessage but with one less safeguard against spying eyes". CNBC.
  16. ↑ Vonau, Manuel (November 3, 2020). "RCS support in Messages is spreading to more countries, including India". Android Police.
  17. ↑ "Google Messages passes one billion installs on the Play Store". Android Police. May 1, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Google's Android Messages passes 500 million installs on the Play Store". Android Police. May 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  19. ↑ Amadeo, Ron (June 16, 2021). "Google enables end-to-end encryption for Android's default SMS/RCS app". Ars Technica.
  20. ↑ Clark, Mitchell (June 15, 2021). "Google adds E2E RCS encryption to Messages, emoji mashup suggests, and more for Android". The Verge.
  21. ↑ Bohn, Dieter (November 19, 2020). "Google is rolling out end-to-end encryption for RCS in Android Messages beta". The Verge. Vox Media, Inc. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  22. ↑ Omara, Emad (June 2021). Technical Paper: Messages End-to-End Encryption Overview - (PDF). gstatic.com (Report). 1.1.
  23. ↑ "Google Messages Gets End-to-End Encryption for Group Chats on Android". PCMAG. December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  24. ↑ Li, Abner (December 2, 2022). "Google Messages starts rolling out end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for group chats in beta". 9to5Google. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  25. 1 2 3 Perez, Sarah (August 8, 2023). "Google's Messages app will now use RCS by default and encrypt group chats". TechCrunch. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  26. ↑ "An important step towards secure and interoperable messaging". Google Online Security Blog. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  27. ↑ Rayome, Alison DeNisco. "Samsung Galaxy S21 makes Google Messages app native, but there's a catch". CNET. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  28. ↑ Porter, Jon (April 28, 2021). "Google Messages gets One UI-inspired redesign on recent Samsung flagships". The Verge. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  29. ↑ Tibken, Shara. "Samsung redesigns its smartphone user interface with One samsung UI". CNET. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  30. ↑ Friedman, Alan (February 23, 2023). "Google drops "Chat" for "RCS" on Android". Phone Arena. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  31. ↑ Schoon, Ben (July 20, 2024). "Samsung going all in on Google Messages in US, stops pre-installing Samsung Messages on Galaxy phones". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  32. ↑ Shaik, Asif Iqbal (July 21, 2024). "Samsung Messages no longer comes pre-installed on Galaxy phones in USA". SamMobile. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Messages by Google - A simple, helpful text messaging app". messages.google.com. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  34. 1 2 "Get reminders with Nudges - Messages Help". support.google.com. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Make calls with Google Duo - Android - Messages Help". support.google.com. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  36. ↑ Kavafian, Hagop (August 17, 2022). "How to share your location on Android". Android Police. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  37. ↑ Li, Abner (October 20, 2022). "Google Messages adding in-app YouTube PiP, free RCS over inflight Wi-Fi, and more". 9to5Google. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  38. ↑ Friedman, Alan (February 6, 2022). "Google Messages update allows users to send Photos links for sharper videos and pictures". Phone Arena. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  39. ↑ "Access the Assistant in Messages, plus the latest on RCS". Google. February 25, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  40. ↑ "Check your messages on your computer or Android tablet - Messages Help". support.google.com. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  41. ↑ "Use caller ID & spam protection - Phone app Help". support.google.com. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Use Gemini in Google Messages - Gemini Apps Help". support.google.com. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
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