Being a bad texter in 2025 is downright embarrassing. With smartphones essentially attached to our palms, the idea that someone somehow “hasn’t seen” your message is implausible at best and downright rude at worst.
I’ve questioned some of my friends who are inept at keeping their Google Messages interface tidy and organized.
I found that, in most cases, this behavior isn’t malicious in nature. Generally speaking, it’s a matter of these individuals reading the text with every intention of replying soon, but then getting busy with other activities and forgetting.
However, for the last few years, I’ve used a very simple trick that makes forgetting to message your friends a plight of the past.
‘Mark unread’ to save your friendships
Yes, it’s that easy
Don’t worry, you don’t have to download an expensive app or hire a text messaging etiquette coach to solve this bad texting behavior.
Instead, there’s a very easy-to-use feature in Google Messages that will make returning your friends’ texts much easier in the long run: Mark unread.
This handy feature allows users to read a text message and, after clicking a few buttons, leave it as unread within the Google Messages interface. So, when you return to the app with a bit more time to reply, you’re reminded of the message you received and still need to respond to.
This process couldn’t be easier. Here’s what you’ll do:
- Go to Google Messages and view your list of conversations.
- Tap and hold the conversation you’d like to come back to.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of the interface, next to the trash can.
- Tap Mark unread, and you’ll be all set with a freshly highlighted message that you won’t forget to reply to.
It’s available (almost) everywhere
Yes, Gmail, WhatsApp, and iOS users can do it, too
If you have trouble responding to other forms of communication beyond texting, that’s a problem.
Neglecting emails, in particular, can have a dire impact on your social and professional life, which means that finding a way to stay up-to-date can go a long way.
Fortunately, the Mark unread feature is also available in Google Gmail. With Gmail, you can mark specific emails within a thread as unread, so you won’t have to scroll through a hundred emails to find the one you want to reply to later.
This feature isn’t exclusively available on Android devices. The “Mark unread” button is available on iMessage, the text messaging platform for iOS devices like the iPhone. It works the same, so if you need a refresher on how to find it, just scroll up.
The Mark unread feature is also available across a range of popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Discord, and Facebook Messenger. Even group messages can take advantage of this feature, so if you’re planning a night out with friends, you won’t miss those key details.
The Mark unread feature is not universally available on every single messaging app under the sun.
After a bit of investigation, I was unable to find such a feature available on the messaging systems for Instagram, Reddit, or X, which, admittedly, are far less popular solutions than the others.
Still, it’s worth noting if you’re hoping to curb your bad texting while using these apps.
The importance of texting back
Your friends will thank you
Between the loneliness epidemic and the increasing prevalence of smartphone addiction, it’s hard to deny the importance of staying in touch with your friends.
Whether they’re checking in after a long day or need support during a tumultuous time in their life, getting back to them in a timely manner could earnestly make all the difference in the world.
The Mark unread feature is a basic one, but it can have a big impact on your ability to remember to text your friends back. If you can’t be bothered to click a couple of buttons to make sure you’re getting back to them quickly, how good a friend are you really?
