What Google Messages features are rolling out [December 2025]

Abner Li | Dec 22 2025 - 8:40 am PT

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 12/22:

Still rolling out (beta)
Recent launches (stable)

Still rolling out (beta)

These are Messages features that Google announced or have been spotted in the wild by beta users.

[New] Toned down Nano Banana Remix

When you long-press on an image, “Remix” in the bottom-left corner is smaller and no longer has the banana emoji. Similarly, the fullscreen viewer no longer overlays the button. Instead, it’s moved to the bottom of your screen.

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[New] Camera tweaks

Google is shrinking the camera viewfinder and rounding the bottom corners. This allows you to fully see your last six images and the start of the next row.

@mentions in group RCS chats

This lets you get a person’s attention in group conversations even “if their notifications are muted.”

@mention in Google Messages!
byu/aniruddhdodiya inGoogleMessages

MLS encryption

Universal Profile 3.0 adds support for the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol that makes possible cross-platform (Android-iOS) RCS that is 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 portion relevant to MLS is the “Encryption Protocol” section. Value “0” is the existing E2EE, while value “1” is the upcoming approach.

New UI for message's "view details" page, also MLS encryption in group chat and 1-2-1 chat
byu/aniruddhdodiya inGoogleMessages

Read receipts redesign

Following the last redesign in early 2023, another revamp places read receipts in a circle at the bottom-right corner of message bubbles (and images).You swipe left to see all timestamps and the end-to-end encryption status, while you swipe left to reply/quote a message. This started rolling out in August 2024, with more people receiving it in November.

Ellipsis	Sending
Single check with ring	Sent
Double check with ring	Delivered
Double check solid circle	Read

In January 2025, Google tweaked the design to make the circular background white. In no longer matching the bubble color, the read receipts stand out a great deal more.

L-R: Current, redesign, latest

Recent launches (stable)

[New] Link preview redesign

Link previews, including YouTube, have a new design and taller cover image. The page title is larger with the domain accompanied by a favicon and more prominent background. However, Google has removed the article snippet in a downgrade to information density.

YouTube Picture-in-Picture is also back with this redesign, but you cannot open the full app immediately even if you disable Messages’ PiP system permission. You have to fullscreen the video in Messages and then tap the logo in the bottom-right corner.

Leave unknown group chats

Google will let you quickly “Leave group” when you’re invited by an unknown number, with options to Block and Report. This alert card above the text field explains how “Unknown sender added you” with the number prominently listed followed by how many people are in the conversation. Messages will note if anybody you know is part of the thread.

Image viewer redesign

After first testing in June, Google has rolled out a redesign of the Messages image viewer. This fullscreen interface features a blurred background and the ability to swipe left/right. Your photo or video is at the center, with a tap opening the full size. Various options are in the top-right corner, while the bottom row shows comments and frequent emojis.

Google has also updated how images are grouped together in the conversation view.

Remix with Nano Banana

When you long-press on an image in your conversation or select/take a new one to send, there will be a “Remix” button in the bottom-left corner. This lets you transform it with a prompt using the Nano Banana model.

RCS must be enabled, with an initial rollout in English to: Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States. Google says there’s a “daily limit of image generations per user.”