Google rolls new Messages features in May
- Google continued testing and rolling out new features for Messages throughout May, with updates observed on May 16 across Android builds today. - 9to5Google's May 16 report listed several incremental UX and security improvements being A/B tested in Google Messages for both stable and beta channels. - The company is expected to highlight system-level AI features at Google I/O on May 19-20. (9to5google.com)
Google began rolling out new features to its Messages app across Android devices on May 16, 2026, with updates appearing in both stable and beta versions. 1/ The updates include several user interface tweaks and security enhancements currently in A/B testing. For instance, a new "Categories" view organizes chats into tabs like "Transactions," "Spam & blocked," "Personal," and "Promotions," helping users sort high-volume message threads more easily. This mirrors inbox organization in apps like Gmail. 2/ Another change adds a dedicated toolbar button for the "Starred" section, making it quicker to access favorited conversations without digging through menus. Testers also spotted an improved spam reporting flow: long-pressing a message now surfaces a "Report spam" shortcut directly in the contextual menu, streamlining the process over previous versions. 3/ Security gets a boost with a new toggle for "Lockbox," Google's encrypted storage for sensitive one-time passwords (OTPs). Users can now enable or disable it from within Messages settings, giving more granular control over where these codes are saved and protected. 4/ On the UX side, the app is testing a refreshed location sharing interface. When sharing live location in a chat, a new full-screen preview shows the map prominently, with options to set duration (15 minutes, 1 hour, or "until turned off") right there. This replaces the older drawer-based design for a more intuitive experience. 5/ These features appeared in Messages version 2025051505 and later builds, spotted on Pixel devices running Android 15 and 16 betas. Not every user sees them yet—A/B testing means rollout is gradual, with some enabled server-side. 6/ Google has not issued an official announcement on these specific changes, but they fit into ongoing Messages updates throughout May 2026. Earlier in the month, the app added custom chat backgrounds and better RCS support for group chats. 7/ Looking ahead, Google I/O kicks off May 19-20, where the company plans to unveil system-level AI integrations for Android, potentially including Messages. Expect demos of Gemini-powered features like smarter spam detection or AI-summarized threads. 8/ To check for updates manually: Open Google Play Store > tap your profile > Manage apps & device > Updates available. Messages updates roll server-side too, so restarting the app after updating may trigger new features.
