Apps like Google Messages have evolved into rich messengers. There are so many features and options to tweak now, from Gemini integration to chat themes.
The abundance of features has made Google Messages too heavy on my eyes. Conversations are loaded with too many functions, and certain settings are buried in menus.
I have five tricks that have made my Google Messages experience a lot more seamless. See if any of these tips help you, too.
Pin important conversations to the top
Add a star to vital messages, as well
First, pin your most important conversations to the top of the list. These make them instantly accessible the moment you fire up Google Messages.
Aside from the usual family and friends, I also pin threads from banks and online services. This helps me separate legitimate texts from scam messages.
To do this, press and hold a conversation, then tap the pin icon at the top. However, you can’t manually sort pinned chats. Everything is sorted in descending order based on the last received message.
You can also add a star to individual messages by long-pressing a message and selecting Star in the submenu. This doesn’t pin messages to the inbox; instead, they enter their own category in Search.
To remove a starred message, tap the star icon beside the message.
Search before scrubbing through chats
Categories are hidden inside the search icon
Since we’re on the topic of Search, you can find message categories hidden inside the search icon. Tapping the icon reveals the search bar and at least eight categories.
You can go straight to the specific contact or message you’re looking for by typing in the search bar, or you can explore any of the categories.
The categories include unread messages, texts from known or unknown contacts, and media files, among others. The most important one is Starred, which contains the messages you’ve starred earlier.
If you have two SIM cards like I do, you’ll find your network operators listed here. These categories display the specific chats each mobile operator is involved in.
Customize swipe gestures for faster actions
Don’t settle for the default option
Here’s something that is often overlooked, but makes inbox decluttering easier: You can choose two different swipe actions for chats.
To customize these gestures, open your profile icon in the upper-right corner of the main page, head to the Messages settings, then select Swipe actions.
You can pick between Archive, Trash, and Mark as read or unread. You can choose one gesture for the right swipe and another for the left swipe.
I set Trash for the right swipe and Mark as read/unread for the left swipe. In the rare instance I need to archive a conversation, I long-press the chat and tap the archive icon at the top.
Archived conversations are found inside Profile > Archived.
Schedule messages in advance
For when the receiver can wait
I often go through my unread messages late at night before going to bed. When I have to reply to someone but don’t want to disturb their sleep, I schedule my text for the next morning.
I start by drafting the message, then long-pressing the Send button. This gives me four scheduling options.
The first three are pre-made. Examples include: Tomorrow, 8:00; Tomorrow, 13:00; and Tomorrow, 18:00. If none of these suit your needs, select Pick date and time.
From here, you can schedule a message days or weeks in advance. Just make sure you’re connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi during that scheduled sending time.
Snooze less-important conversations
Get notified only when you’re mentioned
When group chats become overbearing, it’s natural to ignore incoming messages. To stop Google Messages from pushing notifications for a period of time, you can snooze entire chats.
All you do is tap and hold a conversation, then select the snooze icon at the top. You can choose 1 hour, 8 hours, 24 hours, or Always.
To ensure you receive notifications for the messages you’re mentioned in, check the appropriate option at the bottom of the submenu. This sends push notifications only when you’re tagged.
If you’re the type who sets new messages aside, only to forget to reply later, you can ask Google Messages to remind you automatically. Turn this setting on via Settings > Suggestions & Actions > Nudges > Suggest message reminders.
If you notice important messages going to spam, lower the spam protection. Go to Settings > Protection & Safety and pick Standard protection instead of Enhanced protection.
Google Messages has evolved from its basic SMS roots
Much of the texting friction comes from a buildup of annoyances, not a single interface-breaking update. These tricks aim to reduce hassle and boost productivity in Google’s primary messaging app.
Google Messages is no longer a basic SMS app. It’s now loaded with features that could make or break the flow. By investing a few minutes into configuring pins, swipes, and reminders, you can regain control over your daily messaging.
