Summary
- Google Messages is adding a swipe-through media viewer for easier browsing of photos and videos.
- A new media overview section will allow users to quickly find all shared media within chats.
- These updates aim to bring Google Messages closer to the functionality of other popular messaging apps.
Support for Rich Communication Services (RCS) is one of the biggest changes Google introduced to its Messages app in the last few years. However, RCS support alone isn’t enough to ditch apps like WhatsApp and Telegram in favour of Google Messages. That’s the reason Google is working on additional features that will complement RCS and make the messaging experience more modern.
Earlier this year, Google was spotted working on threaded replies for photos and videos in Google Messages. While this feature is yet to become available for general users, we’ve come to know that the company is working on another advanced feature on Google Messages, thanks to Android Authority’s APK teardown of the app version messages.android_20250528_04_RC00.phone.openbeta_dynamic.
Google Messages may allow you to swipe through media items
Currently, Google Messages allows you to send your reactions or reply to media items you receive in your inbox. However, you have to get back to the main conversation each time to interact with another media item. This is not the most friendly way to browse all the media in chats, especially if you receive too many pictures or videos in your inbox.
To solve this problem, Google is working on a new interface that will allow you to swipe through media items, just like other messaging apps like WhatsApp. A right swipe will bring up older items, while a left swipe will show newer ones. This new interface also features emojis for letting you react and the chat icon for those who want to join the threaded replies. Android Authority managed to enable the feature and posted a demo of how it works in real life. Check out the video below.
However, swiping through media files isn’t the most useful way to find old photos and videos in case you need them. To help you in this type of situation, the Mountain View tech giant has another feature in the works: a media overview section in chat details. As is the case in WhatsApp and other messaging platforms, this will be the place where you’ll find all your shared content. This way, you can quickly open the media overview section and scroll to find what you’re looking for.
Image source: Android Authority
It’s important to note that these changes in Google Messages are a work in progress, so what we see right now may not be final. If implemented well, these changes are powerful enough to keep users hooked to Google Messages.
