Google Messages is finally getting a group chat upgrade it should have had years ago

Date:
Thu, 08 May 2025 13:10:23 +0000

Description:
Google Messages is getting another group chat upgrade, and soon you could be able to add custom icons to your group chats.

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Google Messages looks to be getting an update to its group chat function that would allow you to add custom icons to your group chats.

If the new feature, which has already been spotted by some users, is fully rolled out, it would mark the latest upgrade in Googles messaging service for Android after the announcement of four new design upgrades last week.

9to5Google first spotted the change in Google Messages, sharing that a handful of users have noticed that they have the freedom to set their own group chat icons. However, while some users apparently have access to the new feature, the upgrade isnt available for everyone yet, and no official
roll-out date has been announced.

You can check to see if the feature is available for you by opening a group conversation and tapping the top bar to reveal the group details. If a pencil icon appears at the right of your group chats existing image, it means you
can set your own icon.

Elsewhere, a recent Reddit post notes that GIFs cant be set as group chat icons, and adds that you cant return to the previous icon once youve set a
new custom one. Custom group icons rolling out! from r/GoogleMessages

Right now, group chat icons in Google Messages only show up to four circle profile images, which doesnt make it easy to differentiate chats. The
addition of custom group chat icons would introduce a smoother way to distinguish between chats, as opposed to relying solely on group chat names, and would definitely be an improvement to Google Messages ecosystem. Google Messages is catching up to WhatsApp

In comparison to rival services, and in particular WhatsApp, Google Messages has fallen behind when it comes to implementing relatively minor upgrades to improve the users experience. Since January, though, Messages has been
subject to some minor design changes and functionality improvements, giving the service a long overdue makeover.

One of the first changes, introduced earlier this year, allowed users to once again set names and profile images for their contacts , reversing an earlier change that had annoyed many users. This was followed by the discovery of
code hinting that group chat read receipts were coming to Google Messages.

Another APK teardown in March pointed at the possible addition of WhatsApp-style group chat mentions , and in April more group chat muting features were teased in another teardown. So it looks like Google is making
up for lost time in attempting to bring its messaging service up to speed
let us know what you think of the latest changes in the comments below. You might also like Google Maps can now scan your iPhone screenshots to save forgotten places, but that gives me privacy chills You can use the Google app to decode any eye-watering jargon you read on your iPhone heres how Apple might kick Google Search off of Safari: report



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/software/google-messages-is-finally-gettin g-a-group-chat-upgrade-it-should-have-had-years-ago


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