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Google is stepping up its messaging game by introducing a set of long-awaited features to its Messages app. These new additions aim to bring the app closer in functionality to top-tier competitors like WhatsApp and Telegram. After months of testing, the features are now officially rolling out to all users on the stable version of Google Messages.
Message Deletion for Everyone Is Now Available
One of the most requested features has finally arrived: the ability to delete sent messages for all participants in an RCS (Rich Communication Services) conversation. Users can now tap and hold a message, then select the trash bin icon. A menu will appear with two options: “Delete for me” or “Delete for everyone.”
However, it’s important to note that this function may not work as intended for recipients using older versions of the app—messages might remain visible on their devices. This limitation mirrors similar constraints seen in early versions of the same feature on other messaging platforms.
Mute Conversations and Set Custom Group Icons
Google has also added more control over notifications. You can now temporarily or permanently mute conversations directly from the main screen. By long-pressing a conversation and tapping the new clock icon, you can snooze notifications for 1 hour, 8 hours, 24 hours, or indefinitely. Muted conversations appear grayed out with a reminder icon below the timestamp.
Group chats are also getting customization upgrades. Users can now set a group icon by choosing an image from their photo gallery or selecting from Google’s default illustrations. Additionally, there’s a new feature that lets users pick a specific color theme for each group, changing the color of the message bubbles for a more personalized chat experience.
Undo Message Sends and Enjoy Richer Previews
Another major improvement is the ability to recall sent messages, a feature that’s moving from beta to full release. This includes not only text messages but also emoji reactions and enhanced link previews—like videos, Spotify tracks, or news articles. Until now, these features were largely confined to third-party apps, but they are now becoming standard across a growing number of Android devices.
Currently, nearly 40 million devices in France alone are compatible with these new capabilities, underscoring the wide reach of the update.
Full Rollout and Server-Side Activation
While many of these features are already available through an app update via the Play Store, some, like message recall, depend on server-side changes. This means the rollout may take a few days—or even weeks—depending on how quickly Google activates them for your device.
One important note: although users had hoped for a mention system that would override muted notifications to alert them of urgent messages, this feature hasn’t been implemented yet.
