If your text conversations have been looking simple since Samsung started pushing everyone to Google Messages, you might have something to look forward to. Google seems to be working on a proper customization fix for its messaging app, and it sounds like the kind of thing that should have been there from the start.
Samsung Messages is messed up, apparently
For years, Samsung Messages users have had access to a surprisingly deep level of conversation personalization. Custom wallpapers pulled from your gallery, themed bubble colors, contrast adjustments, and even wallpaper-based themes with the Good Lock module make your chats feel like your own. It wasn’t just work, it was fun. Then Samsung confirmed that it was ditching Samsung Messages entirely in favor of Google Messages, mainly because Samsung’s operating system no longer supports RCS. It’s a fair trade-off on paper, but one that has left many users staring at a plain, beige chat window and wondering where all the humanity has gone.
To be honest, Google Messages is completely devoid of options. You can tap the three-dot menu in any conversation to get the “Change colors” option, which allows you to change the background and colors of the bubble. It works, but it’s about as fun as choosing between two shades of gray for your office walls. There’s no image uploading, no mixing and matching, and no real feeling that your chat window is yours. For the folks at Samsung Messages, the lack of customization has been a real frustration.
But, something bad is on the way
Google seems to be busy building a more robust customization suite for Google Messages, and the signs are promising. The dotted string inside the app points to a “Custom” theme section that will allow users to adjust the background, adjust bubble colors independently, and upload their own images as chat wallpapers. There’s also a hint of Google Photos integration baked in, which can make pulling in one’s photos seamless. In addition, the “Theme Preview” option suggests that users will be able to see exactly how things look before committing, rather than applying changes carelessly. Perhaps the most welcome detail is the ability to mix and match individual elements. Instead of being locked into preset theme packs, you can pair a custom background image with a specific bubble color of your choice. That’s the kind of flexibility Samsung Messages users have been asking for since the switch.
None of this has been officially released yet, so treat it with the usual caution of early development. Features seen in development don’t always make it to the final product, and timelines can stretch. That said, Google’s clear attention to what users like about Samsung Messages is encouraging. A messaging app that you enjoy looking at makes sense, and right now, Google Messages leaves a lot of that on the table. I hope it won’t be long.
