Google Messages beta rolls out the one feature Smart Reply users have been waiting for

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• Google Messages beta is rolling out a Tap to Send/Draft toggle for Smart Replies.
• When enabled, tapping an AI‑generated suggestion places it in the compose box for editing instead of sending it instantly.
• The change helps prevent accidental sends and gives users more flexibility to tweak suggested responses.

Background

Google Messages has been adding quality‑of‑life features such as real‑time location sharing and a Trash functionality.
A long‑standing annoyance with Smart Replies was that tapping a suggestion sent the message immediately, leaving no chance to edit or add to it.

New Tap to Send/Draft option

The beta build 20260303 introduces a setting that lets users choose how Smart Replies behave. As reported by 9to5Google, the toggle is located at:

Settings > Suggestions > Tap to Send

• Toggle off – Tapping a Smart Reply sends the message instantly (the current stable behavior).
• Toggle on – The option changes to Tap to Draft; tapping a Smart Reply inserts the text into the compose box, allowing further editing before sending.

Availability

The Tap to Send/Draft feature is currently available only in the beta channel of Google Messages. It is expected to roll out to the stable version in a future update.