Google Messages can't seem to get read receipts right. | Image by PhoneArena
Google Messages is frequently updated with new features. That's commendable, as is Google's willingness to roll back unpopular changes. However, recent developments highlight a desperate need for the company to be a little less erratic.
Google can't make up its mind
Google Messages 2023 vs 2024. | Image by 9to5Google
Google Messages is getting a read receipts redesign — again. Google has reverted to a previous design with some changes, per9to5Google.
In 2024, read receipts were revamped to show everything inside a circle at the right corner of the text bubble. The change began to see broader deployment earlier this year.
This Google Messages design was more widely available in early 2026 | Image by 9to5Google
Google went back to a two-circle design that showed up below the message bubble recently. The company is now testing a new version of that implementation.
Small but impactful update
Google Messages latest look. | Image by 9to5Google
The beta version of Google Messages underwent another change this week. The timestamp and encryption lock icon are no longer displayed alongside the read receipts.
Swipe left to view timestamp and encryption lock. | Image by 9to5Google
Instead, the information is available when you swipe left. For directly replying to a message, you can swipe right.
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Swipe right to reply. | Image by 9to5Google
Cleaner look
Only displaying the messages by default makes for a cleaner, uncluttered look.
By separating gestures and information based on left and right swipes, Google is simplifying how you interact with the app.
What should Google do instead of obsessing over read receipts?
Why the indecisiveness?
It's not clear why Google keeps going back and forth with read receipt changes. The constant changes undermine the user experience, with new actions to commit to memory every few months.
It's possible that the company thought that too many changes at once overwhelmed users, which is why it is breaking them up into smaller chunks to experiment.
With Samsung Messages no more, and most manufacturers already having Google Messages as the default texting app, the bar needs to be raised higher.
For that, Google needs to be more mindful of the changes to ensure a consistent and stable experience.
Moreover, instead of devoting more attention and resources than necessary to read receipts, the company should also focus on the other aspects of the 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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