Skip to main content

New Google Messages setting lets you turn off ‘expressive animations’ [U]

As previously spotted, Google Messages is now rolling out a “Show expressive animations” setting to disable Reaction Effects, Animated Emoji, and more. 

Update 6/26: The “Show expressive animations” setting is now widely rolling out to the stable (version 20240603_01_RC01) and beta (20240621_01_RC00) channels.


Original 4/30: In Google Messages settings, you’ll find a new “Show expressive animations” on/off toggle below Send photos faster, Hear outgoing and incoming message sounds, and Pinch to zoom conversation text. 

It’s enabled by default today. Once disabled, Animated Emoji is replaced by regular emoji characters, while you no longer have fullscreen Screen Effects (though Google might have rolled this back recently) and Reaction Effects (👍 ❤️ 😂 😮 😡 👎 💩 🎉 😠 😢).

That being said, reactions you leave on messages will animate, though the movement is tiny/minimal. Photomoji is also still available.

We’re seeing Show expressive animations setting with the latest Google Messages beta (20240426_01_RC00). It’s not yet rolled out to the stable channel from the devices we checked. 

This is a much better solution than Google’s previous advice to “Remove animations” across the system and other apps. People have complained that animating each reaction is too much for such a common behavior.

Expressive animations off vs. on

More on Google Messages:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Abner Li Abner Li

Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications