● Covered by 1 source · 2 reportsLow impact2 neutral
Google Messages Beta Updates Long-Press Menu and Introduces Partial Text Copying
Key points
- Long-press menu redesigned for one-handed use.
- New floating menu replaces top toolbar.
- Users can now copy specific parts of messages.
- Expanded chat theme options are also rolling out.
- Updates are part of a server-side rollout in beta.
Redesigned Long-Press Menu
Google Messages is updating its long-press menu in the beta version (20260731_00_RC00). This redesign changes the layout of options for interacting with messages, aiming to improve one-handed usage.
Previously, long-pressing a message displayed a toolbar at the top of the screen with three primary actions and other options in an overflow menu. The new design applies a blur effect to the background and presents a floating menu below the text or image. This menu includes options such as Reply, Forward, Copy, Star, Delete, Select more, Info, and Save (for media).
Partial Text Copying Introduced
A significant new feature allows users to copy specific parts of a message. In the past, copying a message required selecting the entire text. With this update, a second long-press on text enables precise selection and copying of only a particular section of the message.
Expanded Chat Theme Options
Alongside the menu redesign, Google Messages is also introducing more extensive customization for conversations through a new "Chat theme" option. This replaces the previous "Change colors" feature from 2024 and can be accessed from the three-dot overflow menu. Users will find nine color options, including Dynamic Color, which responds to the chat background, and eight static options.
Availability
These updates are rolling out as part of a server-side update to beta users running the latest version of Google Messages. Users who do not see the changes immediately may need to force stop the Google Messages application from their device's app info settings.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
How outlets covered it
Google Messages is introducing several new features, including a customizable attachments grid, a redesigned long-press menu for messages, and expanded chat theme options. These updates aim to enhance user interaction and personalization within the messaging application.
Google Messages is rolling out a redesigned long-press menu in its beta version, which changes the layout of options for message interactions. This update also introduces the ability to copy specific parts of a message, rather than the entire text.