What Google Messages features are rolling out [November 2025]
Source: 9to5Google
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 11/29
Table of contents
Still rolling out (beta)
These are Messages features that Google announced or have been spotted in the wild by beta users.
[New] Link preview redesign
Link previews, including YouTube, are getting a new design that has a taller cover image. The page title is also larger with the domain accompanied by a favicon and a more prominent background. Google has removed the article snippet to reduce information density. The YouTube PiP is also back, but there’s no way to open the full app.
@mentions in group RCS chats
This lets you get a person’s attention in group conversations even “if their notifications are muted.”
MLS encryption
Universal Profile 3.0 adds support for the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol, making cross‑platform (Android‑iOS) RCS end‑to‑end encrypted (E2EE).
You can check whether this is live for a conversation by long‑pressing on a message and opening the redesigned Details page. The “Encryption Protocol” section shows value 0 for the existing E2EE and 1 for the upcoming MLS approach.
Image viewer redesign
Google is testing a revamp of how images appear in a thread, grouping photos sent at the same time together. The fullscreen image viewer now has a blurred background, previews of the previous and next images, and a new bottom row for reactions.
Read receipts redesign
Following the early‑2023 redesign, another revamp places read receipts in a circle at the bottom‑right corner of message bubbles (and images). Swipe left to see timestamps and encryption status, or to reply/quote a message. This started rolling out in August 2024 and expanded in November.
In January 2025, Google tweaked the design to give the circular background a white fill, making the receipts stand out more.
L‑R: Current, redesign, latest
Recent launches (stable)
[New] Remix with Nano Banana
When you long‑press on an image in a conversation (or select/take a new one), a “Remix” button appears in the bottom‑left corner. It lets you transform the image with a prompt using the Nano Banana model.
RCS must be enabled. Initial rollout (English) is in Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States. Google notes a “daily limit of image generations per user.”
Tweaked camera + gallery icon
A small tweak moves the gallery icon in the text field away from the corner camera. There are no changes to the combined viewfinder and gallery.
Old vs. new
Account menu redesign
Google Messages now has a fullscreen account menu to access Settings, Your profile, Archived, Spam & blocked, Mark all as read, and Device pairing. The previous overlay design showed the background; the new menu is fully Material 3 Expressive.
Old vs. new
Spam link detection
If a message is suspected to be spam, Google will warn you when you click any links within it and block navigation to potentially harmful sites. The feature is available globally, with an option to mark the message as “not spam.”
Key Verifier
As previewed in May, Key Verifier helps protect you from scammers impersonating someone you know. It lets you verify the identity of the other party through public encryption keys presented as QR codes, also accessible via the Google Contacts app.
If an attacker gains a friend’s phone number (e.g., via a SIM‑swap) and sends you a message from another device, the contact’s verification status will appear as “not verified” in Google Contacts, indicating a possible compromise.
In Messages, go to the Details page and tap Verify encryption to get “Your QR code” or to Scan contact’s QR code.
Other feature announcements
- Standalone gallery
- Material 3 Expressive redesign / chat redesign
- Sensitive Content Warnings
- Details page redesign
- Custom group chat icons
- Delete for everyone
- Snooze notifications
- RCS status in updated ‘New chat’ contacts list
- Gallery + camera redesign with ‘Original quality’ sending
- Expanded text field limit
- Real‑time and expanded Scam Detection
- Unsubscribe for SMS and RCS spam
- Double tap to thumbs up
- Text field redesign 2025
- Improved media receiving performance
- Custom profile pictures
- ‘Your profile’ name and photo settings
- “Magic Rewrite” button
- Camera face filters
- Gemini double FAB
- RCS message editing
- Group search in new conversations screen
- Full RCS Messages transfer on Pixel 9
- RCS photo with text caption redesign
- New “Select recipients” conversation picker
- Show expressive animations
- Larger contact photos
- Voice recorder redesign with noise cancellation + Voice Moods
- Single‑line text field
- Selfie GIF
- Custom Bubbles and backgrounds
- Profiles
- Reaction Effects
- Revamped Contact Details page
- Photomoji
- Magic Compose
- Google Account Device pairing
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