I have mixed feelings about RCS (Rich Communication Services), though I don’t consider it a terrible messaging standard and “anti-internet,” as many of its critics do. It’s still a strong reason I use Google Messages.
RCS has its own issues, but even with them, Google Messages is still the best way to text on Android. However, this doesn’t mean I don’t know how poorly Google has handled some parts of its messaging experience over the years.
It stings a little because I use Google Messages as my primary messaging app. Then there are features that Google somehow forgot, or deliberately didn’t pay enough attention to.
Since text messages aren’t a huge part of daily communication, I don’t have a long list of things or anything major that needs to change for the better in Google Messages.
I just want a small fix in Google Messages, because I’m tired of waiting for Google to deliver it.
Google Messages doesn’t know how to get OTP right
Google Messages is fast, smooth, and reliable, from typing messages to sending them to the right person. However, it doesn’t deserve the same level of praise when it comes to handling OTP messages.
Don’t get me wrong, it has everything that it needs for a great OTP experience, but it doesn’t know how to execute well.
Google Messages delivers the OTP messages on time when your network strength is good, but the trick it misses is wasting users’ time by forcing them to read unnecessary parts of the messages.
When an OTP arrives, Google Messages’ notification preview always shows the line that contains the code. It does show the OTP number just below the line with a slightly bigger font, along with an option to copy it. But I always find myself reading the first before seeing the code.
I rarely manage to copy the OTP directly from the notification preview because, by the time I realize where to look, it disappears from my screen. Then I have to open the notification tray to copy it.
I didn’t realize the friction until I saw how smooth the experience is on my partner’s Android phone.
I love its auto-delete OTP capability, even though I believe it should be enabled by default, but it fails at something very basic. I fear Google may not even know that it’s something that needs fixing.
Whatever the reason may be, this isn’t a difficult problem to solve. Google Messages just needs to be open to learn from those who do it better, just as it did many times in the past. My partner’s phone has the answer.
A straightforward fix that Google Messages still can’t spot
My partner doesn’t use Google Messages as her daily driver. Instead, she uses an app called SMS Organizer, developed by Microsoft. Not many know about it because it is available only in limited regions.
However, more than anyone else, Google knows about it because it’s available on the Google Play Store for regions where the app is supported. The next step is to spot how SMS Organizer makes it easier for users to spot and copy the OTP.
Instead of showing the text, the SMS Organizer notification preview directly displays the OTP along with options to copy and delete it. This eliminates the need for you to get distracted by something else.
SMS Organizer also shows OTPs the same way in the notification tray, so you won’t be distracted by anything unnecessary other than the code.
It’s clean, convenient, no-nonsense, and easily the best way to show OTP. Google Messages just needs to copy it.
It’s not perfect, but Google Messages remains my favorite
Google Messages isn’t anywhere close to perfect, but I like how it appears simple yet delivers all the useful features that I need daily. I do wish it had its OTP issue fixed, but it doesn’t impact me every day.
While it doesn’t downplay my growing frustration that the issue still hasn’t been fixed, I’m more forgiving of this than Google snatching useful features from the app.
The last major one it removed was the ability to set message reminders manually, and I still miss it.
Despite this, it hasn’t changed my stance on Google Messages, and it certainly hasn’t now. But I’m not too sure about how long I’ll keep rooting for Google Messages if issues keep surfacing and go unresolved.
It isn’t about my mood; it’s Google’s job to get it right and give users fewer reasons to switch to another service. RCS alone won’t be able to make it immune to mass migration of users if Google keeps ignoring what’s broken.
For now, except for a few glitches here and there, nothing feels serious enough to trigger an exodus. As for me, I’m staying and hoping for things to get better in Google Messages.
