When you get a message, you can choose to be notified with a:
- Sound
- Vibration
- Reminder
You can also choose how:
- Your device sends pictures and videos
- Google Messages handles advanced tasks
Important:Some of these steps work only on Android 8.0 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
Change global settings
Change default notification settings
- Open Google Messages
.
- Tap your profile photo or icon
Settings.
- Stop notifications from other apps: Tap Notifications
Turn off All "Default settings" notifications.
- Get notifications on your phone from Google Messages: Tap Notifications
Turn on Incoming messages.
- Stop sound notifications when you send messages: Turn off Hear outgoing message sounds.
- Stop notifications from other apps: Tap Notifications
Learn how to change options for specific people.
Change your default messaging app
- Open your device's Settings app
.
- Tap Apps
Default apps
SMS app.
To make your font size smaller or larger:
- Open your device's Settings app.
- SelectAccessibility
Text and display.
- Select Font size.
- Use the slider to choose your font size.
To make items on your screen smaller or larger:
- Open your device's Settings app.
- SelectAccessibility
Text and display
Display size.
- Use the slider to choose your display size.
Change advanced settings
Change how Google Messages sends pictures, videos & audio files
- Open Google Messages
.
- Tap your profile photo or icon
Settings
Advanced.
- Send a message or a file separately to each person in a conversation: Tap Group messaging
Send an SMS reply to all recipients and get individual replies (mass text).
- Automatically download files in messages: Turn on Auto-download MMS.
- Automatically download files when data roams: Turn on Auto-download MMS when roaming.
- Send a message or a file separately to each person in a conversation: Tap Group messaging
Use simple characters/Change number to send files
- Open Google Messages
.
- Tap your profile photo or icon
Settings
Advanced.
- Change special characters to simple characters: Turn on Use simple characters.
- Change the phone number you use to send files: Tap Phone number.
Change bubble notification settings
You can keep conversations accessible with bubble notifications. When you pin bubbles to your home screen, you can get messages from contacts in fewer steps.
- Open Google Messages
.
- Tap your profile photo or icon
Settings
Bubbles.
- Choose:
- Get notifications for all conversations: Tap All conversations can bubble.
- Get notifications for certain contacts: Tap Selected conversations can bubble.
- Stop all notifications: Tap Nothing can bubble.
Tips:
- Change bubble settings for specific contacts: Open a conversation
Tap More options
Details
Notifications.
- Dismiss a notification: Touch and hold the bubble, then drag it to the bottom of your screen.
Additional controls for notifications, blocking & group messages
- Open Google Messages
.
- Open a 1:1 conversation or group message.
- Tap More
Details or More
Group details.
- Stop message notifications: Tap Notifications
Silent.
- Get priority notifications: Tap Notifications
Priority.
- Block messages from the phone number or group: Tap Block & report spam
OK.
Optional: Check the box next to “Report spam” to send a spam report. - Add people to the conversation: Tap Add people.
- Stop message notifications: Tap Notifications
Turn off link previews for websites
Link previews from websites can be turned on or off:
- Open Google Messages
.
- At the top right, tap your profile photo or icon
Settings
Automatic previews.
- Turn off Show all previews.
- Optional: To turn off previews when you send or get a link in a conversation, tap Show only web link previews.
Tip: Only share links you trust. URLs can include personal details, like your location or bank information.
Learn how the previews for links are created.
Important: These steps only work on Android 10 and up.
- Open your device's Settings app
.
- Tap Display.
- Turn Dark theme on or off.
Important: Verified SMS isn't available in all countries or regions.
When Verified SMS is on, Google verifies messages from participating businesses.
Turn off verified SMS:
- Open Google Messages
.
- Tap your profile photo or icon
Settings
Verified SMS.
- Turn off Verify business message sender.
Learn how Verified SMS works.
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