Change Messages notifications & settings

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: You're using a custom Android version. If these steps don't work for you, check with your device manufacturer.

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

1. Open Google Messages .
2. 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.

Learn how to change options for specific people.

Change your default messaging app

1. Open your device's Settings app .
2. Tap Apps Default apps SMS app.

Change font size

To make your font size smaller or larger:

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Select Accessibility Text and display.
3. Select Font size.
4. Use the slider to choose your font size.

Change display size

To make items on your screen smaller or larger:

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Select Accessibility  Text and display  Display size.
3. Use the slider to choose your display size. 

Change advanced settings

Change how Google Messages sends pictures, videos & audio files

1. Open Google Messages .
2. 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.

Use simple characters/Change number to send files

1. Open Google Messages .
2. 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.

1. Open Google Messages .
2. Tap your profile photo or icon Settings Bubbles.
3. 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

1. Open Google Messages .
2. Open a 1:1 conversation or group message.
3. 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.

Turn off link previews for websites

Link previews from websites can be turned on or off:

1. Open Google Messages .
2. At the top right, tap your profile photo or icon Settings Automatic previews.
3. 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.

Turn off dark theme

Important: These steps only work on Android 10 and up.

1. Open your device's Settings app .
2. Tap Display.
3. Turn Dark theme on or off.

Turn phone number verification on or off

When you opt in, you allow Google to automatically verify your phone's number every now and then. You can also opt out at any time.

1. Open your Google Settings. Depending on your phone:
   • Open your phone's Settings app Google.
   • Open a separate app called Google Settings.
2. Tap Mobile data & messaging Phone Number Verification.
3. Choose whether to automatically verify the phone's number.

Related resources

• Fix problems sending, receiving, or connecting to Google Messages
• Get started with the Google Messages app