Google Messages beta gets a fresh look for links and YouTube videos
Google Messages for Android just dropped a beta update with redesigned link previews.
Now, when you share a link, you'll see a bigger image and larger title instead of the full URL, making chats look cleaner and more modern.
What's changed with links and videos?
The new previews show the website's domain and icon but skip the page description.
If your message is just a link, the URL won't show up—unless you add extra text.
YouTube links now play right inside Messages in a mini player, so you don't get kicked over to the YouTube app.
How does it stack up against other chat apps?
This minimalist style feels similar to Google Discover. However, since it doesn't open YouTube directly in its app anymore, sharing videos might feel less smooth than before.
If you miss seeing full URLs or want more control, you can turn off previews or just copy-paste links yourself.