Google messages gets a major new update: Here’s what has changed

Google is rolling out a new update for Google Messages that aims to make everyday messaging faster and easier

Google is rolling out a new update for Google Messages that aims to make everyday messaging faster and easier. The redesigned long-press menu reportedly started becoming available on October 1, 2026 bringing frequently used actions into a cleaner and more accessible interface.

With the new design, users can press and hold a message to access several common tools including Reply, Forward, Copy, Star, Delete, Select More and Message Info. For image messages additional options such as Remix and Save are also available.

One of the most useful changes is the ability to select a specific portion of a message rather than copying the entire message. After selecting text users can access actions such as Copy, Translate, and Select All. This could be particularly helpful when a message contains a phone number, address sentence or other information that users only want to save or share.

Google has also made visual improvements to the selection experience. When users select the latest message a subtle animation and vibration can indicate that the message has been successfully selected. The selected message is also brought toward the center of the screen making it easier to identify.

The redesigned menu is intended to work smoothly in both light and dark themes. It has also been optimized for landscape orientation which should make messaging more convenient on phones and larger displays when held horizontally.

The update may not appear for everyone immediately because Google often releases new features gradually. If the redesigned menu is not yet visible users can try force-stopping Google Messages and reopening the app. However availability may still depend on the device, app version, and rollout status.