The most recent Google Messages replace makes key options simpler to succeed in

Final 12 months, Google Messages obtained a number of essential updates that helped convey its messaging app, which has develop into the default on most Android telephones, nearer to rivals like WhatsApp and iMessage. These updates included enhancements to group chats, spam safety, and different RCS options, corresponding to the power to edit RCS messages despatched to an iPhone.

Now, to kick off 2026, Google Messages is rolling out a brand new characteristic that additional cleans up its consumer interface with an entire redesign of its messaging context menu, the one which pops up if you long-press a message.

The brand new dynamic context menu, which is reportedly beginning to roll out extra extensively to Google Messages beta customers (by way of Android Authority), pulls collectively a number of options that had been beforehand tucked away behind the hamburger (three-line) menu within the top-right nook of the app. These choices now seem in a brand new context menu beneath any message you long-press, making them a lot simpler to succeed in — particularly for those who’re utilizing your cellphone one-handed. The brand new context menu was posted about on Reddit, and you may take a look at what it seems to be like beneath.

As you’ll be able to see within the picture above, reactions nonetheless seem above a message if you long-press it, however the brand new context menu beneath the message now homes actions like Reply, Ahead, Copy, Star, Delete, Choose Extra, and Data.

Reactions to the change have been usually constructive up to now

Whereas the brand new context menu for Google Messages seems to be fairly helpful, it is nonetheless solely in beta, so it is unclear when it’s going to roll out to the steady public model of the app. That mentioned, loads of beta customers on Reddit are reporting they’re beginning to see the characteristic now, and with extra folks in a position to check it, that could possibly be an indication {that a} wider launch is not too far off.

The context menu was first noticed by Android Authority again in October throughout an APK teardown of Google Messages, however till now, it wasn’t one thing most individuals might really strive. It is also price maintaining in thoughts that for the reason that characteristic remains to be in beta, Google might tweak or refine it based mostly on suggestions earlier than launching it extra broadly. One concern raised by a Reddit consumer is that the brand new menu removes the power to delete a number of messages directly — however you’ll be able to nonetheless try this by tapping the “Choose extra” choice.

Thus far, reactions on Reddit to the change have been largely constructive, with one consumer particularly mentioning that the change is much like iMessage’s context menu. Personally, I like the way it seems to be so much, and I believe it will make utilizing Google Messages on my Galaxy Z Fold 7 unfolded noticeably simpler.