Google Messages Preps Redesigned Settings Menu in Beta Build
Android Authority previews a Google Messages beta that regroups settings and adds graphics to redesigned pages.
The publication examined version messages.android_20261020_00_RC00.phone.openbeta_dynamic. In the current app, RCS options, notification settings and bubble preferences appear in one long list; the beta lays them out under new sections.
The Messaging screen largely carries over settings previously found under RCS chats but divides them into sections. A separate page is dedicated to viewing SIM data and setting the country, Android Authority reported. Some screen headings do not match the buttons that lead to them; the report said this may be because the work is still in progress, citing an example where Protection & Safety appears instead of Spam & Safety.
Privacy options include configuring profiles and choosing read receipts and typing indicators. Swipe action settings look similar to the current version. Gemini gets new artwork, and the Suggestions & Actions submenus include new illustrations.
Not every page receives the same treatment. Android Authority said some screens still show only a small amount of text and a lot of blank space. It described the redesign as an improvement over the current clutter and a step in the right direction, while noting that it is not a complete reimagining of Messages settings.