5 Google Messages Settings You Should Change Right Now

Whether you’re fighting for more privacy or want to try new features, you’ll want to dig deeper into Android’s Google Messages app. A few hidden toggles can turn off RCS indicators, schedule your texts, or auto-delete verification codes to help conceal your activity. It’s worth a closer look, especially since Google Messages is now the predominant texting app on Android phones; it used to compete with Samsung Messages.

But times have changed: over the last year, the Korean giant has made Google Messages the default messaging app on its Samsung phones and officially retired Samsung Messages in U.S. markets in July 2026. As such, Google Messages isn’t going anywhere; it’s proven reliable (aside from a few technical hiccups) and a core part of the Android package. Still, that doesn’t mean you should stick with the defaults or keep settings you set long ago, before other customizable features were added; your main texting app should feel completely yours.

Even if you are diligent about using verification codes sent through Google Messages quickly to log into your chosen services, it’s still better to keep them off the record from unauthorized, prying eyes. This is because expired verification codes still leave a paper trail of which websites or apps you’re using and confirm they are connected to your number. That’s why the less information you keep on the front end of your messages, the better.

Thankfully, this is easy to do. You can either do it manually or use the app’s auto-delete setting. No matter which method you prefer, auto-deletion is still a solid option if you forget to clean up your messages (it doesn’t hurt to enable it). To turn this setting on, open Google Messages, then navigate to “Messages settings” > “Message organization.” From there, turn on “Auto-delete OTPs after 24 hours.”

When it comes to on-device AI features, there usually isn’t a middle ground; you either like integrating Gemini into your apps or you don’t. In the right hands, it can be useful, but otherwise it can feel like bloat. Nonetheless, the choice should remain yours, and if you don’t want to see the Gemini button in your view, consider turning it off (it is currently the best option since Google didn’t add Connected apps settings for Gemini in Google Messages). This keeps your messaging experience simpler and clearer. To get a more Gemini-free experience, open Google Messages and go to your “Messages settings.” From there, go to “Gemini in Messages” and ensure the “Show Gemini button” toggle is set to off.

Unfortunately, removing Gemini in this way doesn’t improve your privacy, since it only hides the button from your view. If you’re privacy-conscious, you can do a little more by turning off some Smart features embedded in the app. To do this, open Google Messages, tap “Messages settings” > “Suggestions & Actions.” From there, select “Suggestions,” “Suggested stickers,” “Actions,” and “Nudges” to turn any of these features off by tapping on the respective toggles.

If you’re a fan of gestures, Google Messages’ swipe actions are quite easy to set up and manage inside the app. Essentially, they give you more control by letting you assign left and right swipe gestures to “Archive,” “Trash,” “Mark as read or unread,” or “Off.” To set them up, go to Google Messages, then go to “Messages settings,” scroll down, and select “Swipe actions.” From there, choose the “Swipe right” and “Swipe left” headers, then tap “Customize” next to each. This opens a pop-up window with a radio button next to each option. By default, the app assigns the same function to both, so you’ll want to change it. Conversely, if gestures aren’t for you and you accidentally move the conversation out of view, you can return to the same menu and choose the “Off” option to deactivate them.

These aren’t the only gestures you can use in the app. In a later update, Google Messages added a long-press menu that lets you get quick access to functions like “Reply,” “Forward,” “Copy,” “Star,” “Delete,” “Select more,” and “Info.” In individual chats, you can also swipe left and right to see timestamps and encryption status, and reply instantly to selected text.

Google Messages can show detailed message pop-ups as notifications and display content when your device is locked. If you’re using your phone next to someone or have it connected to Android Auto, you may not want people to see who’s messaging you and why. Depending on your device, you might have two key notification options: set “Notification pop-up” to “Brief pop-up” (if it isn’t your default), and set “Hide when locked” to “Show or hide content when locked.” Enabling these options protects your privacy when your device is locked, especially if you’re in the car and your passengers are looking at it. For Android Auto, also consider preventing your assistant from reading your messages aloud by turning off auto-read for maximum privacy.

To turn these on, open Google Messages, go to “Messages settings” > “Notifications,” then tap “Notification pop-up style” and select “Brief pop-up.” Below that option, scroll down and tap “Show or hide content when locked,” then choose “Hide when locked.” Note that these options vary by device; for example, Samsung phones have this, while Pixel phones don’t.

Some users still prefer the SMS/MMS protocol over RCS chats for different reasons. Unfortunately, Google is going to phase out that protocol and move to RCS only. RCS-only isn’t a bad thing, but it can affect your social privacy because it can indicate your activity, which you might not want to share with all your contacts. As a workaround, some people turn off RCS chats or toggle on “Only send SMS & MMS messages” for different recipients, but a new update will likely remove the second option.

Instead of fighting RCS altogether, you can do a bit more for your social privacy by turning off RCS indicators so others can’t see when you read a text or reply. To do that, open Google Messages and go to “Messages settings” > “RCS chats.” From there, toggle off “Send read receipts” and “Show typing indicators.” Another reason to turn it off is lag. If your connection is poor, messages may arrive slowly, which could confuse your recipient if they are watching your activity in real time. RCS promotes more dynamic engagement, which can be a lot of pressure when conversations happen in real time. That’s why some people tweak their settings for more control and less visibility to ease that pressure.