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Google Messages now makes it easier to see if you have been left on read

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By Anam Hamid

Published: Jan 27, 2025, 12:05 AM

Apps Google

Google Messages continues to tweak read receipts to ensure better visibility and add a bit of flair.

As previously hinted, the message delivery status indicator has been slightly redesigned. Per 9to5Google, Google is testing a minor RCS read receipts design that makes them more visible.

Google has essentially swapped the colors for a minor but impactful change. Previously, the checkmarks were white and they resided in a blue circle. After the change, the circle is white and the ticks are blue.

Old vs new Google Messages read receipts. | Image Credit - 9to5Google

Given that the message bubble is also blue, the updated read receipt design stands out more, making this a meaningful change.

The updated receipts started rolling out last week but it hasn't made it to all users. More specifically, it appears that it's only been deployed to users who experienced a redesign that involved relocating the read receipts from below the message bubble to inside it.

For some users, the new indicators are only live in the main message list, with the actual chats still maintaining the old design.

Google also appears to be testing a subtle animation for sending texts, according to an earlier report. Another change that may be rolled out in the future is adding threaded replies to media attachments. The company may also let you react to images and videos after tapping on them instead of having to long-press on them in the full chat summary.

As is often the case with Google Messages updates, none of these changes appear significant on their own, but it's small tweaks like these that improve the user experience in the long run.

Also, with Samsung Messages and a couple of carrier texting apps getting retired or deprecated to boost Google Messages and RCS adoption, it's more important than ever for the company to make continuous improvements to its messaging app.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.

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