Google Account & profile sharing in Google Messages

Google Messages now allows you to share your Google Account profile (name and picture only) with the people you send messages to, so they can easily recognize you. Your Gmail address is never shared with anyone when you use Google Messages.

How it works

• When you sign in to Google Messages with your Google Account, you can choose how to share your profile information.
• Your name and picture is only shared with Google Messages users (not iPhone users) after you send them a message.
• This doesn't make your profile publicly visible.
• Your phone number won't be visible in other Google apps. It's only used to verify and help other Google Messages users connect with you.
• When a profile is shared for one of your existing contacts, you'll receive a new picture for them in Google Messages, but retain the saved name if it's different.

Manage profile sharing & related features

Manage profile sharing

You can control how Google Messages shares your profile information:

1. Open Google Messages .
2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture.
3. Select Your profile .
4. Select one of these options:
   • People you message: Your profile is visible to people after you send them a message.
   • Only your contacts: Your profile is visible to people after you send them a message, but only if they're in your contacts.
   • No one: Your profile isn't made visible to anyone after you send a message.

If you find a tilde (~) before someone's name, they're sharing their profile, and they're not yet saved as a contact.

If you accidentally share your profile with a suspected spammer, block and report the conversation as spam. Your profile information is immediately removed from that conversation, which removes access to your profile name and picture from the spammer.

Learn how to block senders & report spam in Google Messages.

Use Google Messages without an account

1. Open Google Messages .
2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture Down arrow Use without an account .

When you use Google Messages without an account, you may not have access to features like Magic Compose, Device Pairing or Gemini. Your profile isn't shared with anyone, and you won't find other users' profiles.

Turn phone number verification on or off

To enable Google services and help people reach you, your carrier and Google periodically verifies your device info and phone number. You can opt out at any time.

1. Open your Google Settings. Based on your phone’s model:
   1. Open your phone's Settings app, and then select Google.
   2. Open a separate app called Google Settings.
2. Select Privacy & Security Phone Number Verification.
3. Choose whether to automatically verify the phone numbers.

Learn how to verify your Android phone's number.

Change the phone number on your Google Account

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Tap Google Manage your Google Account.
3. At the top, select Personal info.
4. Under "Contact info," tap Phone number.
5. Select your phone number.
6. From here, you can:
   • Add a phone number: Under "Your phone numbers," select Add recovery phone.
     • If you haven't already, add a recovery phone number.
   • Change your phone number: Next to your number, tap Edit Update number.
   • Delete your phone number: Next to your number, tap Delete Remove number.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Tip: If you change the number in your Google Account, it affects some Google services. Learn how to change the phone number on your account & how it's used.

Related resources

• Get started with Google Messages
• Check your messages on your computer or Android tablet
• Send & receive text & voice messages in Google Messages
• Change Google Messages notifications & settings