There are plenty of benefits to using a beta version of an app, including the ability to try new features before they’re widely available. However, things aren’t always smooth with beta apps, as they can sometimes be unstable and/or break key functionality. Users of Google Messages were reminded of that fact over the weekend, with the app’s most recent beta breaking image and link sharing/forwarding.
Android smartphones using Google Messages beta (20250610_00_RC02.phone.openbeta_dynamic) are currently unable to forward images, videos, or links inside the app. The bug was brought to light by 9to5Google, and I was able to confirm it on my Pixel smartphone running the same beta of Google’s messaging app.
Attempting to forward an image, video, link, or text message from another chat instantly crashes the app. In the meantime, trying to share an item using Android’s share sheet also bears no fruit. The bug also applies to the forward button situated next to images shared inside chats.
To be clear, the ability to send media, links, or text messages isn’t completely broken, though you will be required to take some additional steps. If you’re looking to share a link, you will have to copy and paste the URL manually inside the chat. Similarly, videos and images can be shared inside each chat using the attachment sheet (+ icon), provided you have the media saved on the device.
An updated version could land soon
The crucial Select recipients page remains inaccessible in the latest Google Messages beta (Via: 9to5Google)
The inability to access the app’s Select recipients page can be irritating, especially since it’s one of the primary methods of sharing items with your contacts on Google Messages. This page gives users instant access to all their contacts, with a Recent contacts list on top, followed by a traditional list of alphabetically arranged contacts.
The good news is that you can remedy this bug by leaving the beta program on the Play Store page and following a couple of simple steps. As 9to5Google points out, you will need to disable future updates by heading to Settings > Apps > Messages and tapping “Uninstall updates” from the three-dot menu. At this point, you should be able to go to the Play Store and download/update Google Messages to get the stable version of the app.
However, if you’re someone who doesn’t use the forwarding function in Google Messages too much, it makes sense to stick with this particular beta and stay tuned for an updated version to drop, which could happen imminently.
