Google Messages gets new features to enhance your privacy
Google Messages just rolled out new features to keep your chats safer and give the app a fresh look.
With scams on the rise, these updates focus on protecting your privacy and making messaging smoother for Android users.
New safety features
Safer Links now warns you before opening sketchy links and blocks them unless you say they're safe.
Key Verifier, available on Android 10 and up, lets you scan QR codes to confirm who you're really talking to—helping stop impersonators and SIM swap attacks.
Material 3 expressive design
The app's been updated with Material 3 Expressive design, bringing a fullscreen account menu, standalone gallery access, and improved Wear OS chat controls.
Everything feels more organized and consistent across devices.
End-to-end encryption for RCS chats
Unlike Apple's iMessage—which only encrypts messages between Apple devices—Google Messages offers end-to-end encryption for RCS chats between Google Messages users, with broader cross-platform encryption still rolling out.
Plus, it now includes contact verification.
Some features are still rolling out, but it's a solid move for anyone in the Android crowd looking for extra security.