A bug in Google Messages is causing the app to randomly send old text messages to other random people and, while it’s still happening, a fix is slowly on the way.
The issue at play here sees Google Messages reviving old messages that were sent to a contact and sending those alongside another new message to a different contact. You can see the problem, right? A message meant for your significant other could theoretically be sent to your parents, for example. It’s been reported by many users in recent weeks, with the problem even visible in real time; some have tested sending themselves messages only to see old messages randomly inserted into the same thread.
Highlighted by Droid-Life, there are still reports of this behavior popping up right now, with some reports popping up just in the past day.
It’s not happening for everyone, but it’s obviously a major issue for those affected. Sending old messages to random people could, at the very least, result in confusion, but could go as far as revealing private information.
In a statement, Google confirmed that it is aware of the issue and has a fix, but it’s not rolling out quickly. Google said:
We’re currently rolling out a fix that will reach everyone over the coming weeks. Please ensure you stay up to date with the most recent version of Google Messages.
That was on September 2, and reports continue to pop up now, the better part of a week later. Updates continue to land on Google Play, so go check for a patch if you’re affected. Let us know in the comments below if you’re running into this bug.
More on Google Messages:
- Google Messages rolling out long-press menu redesign with precise copying
- What new Google Messages features are rolling out [August 2026]
- Google Messages officially announces custom ‘Chat themes’ & backgrounds
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