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
• Messages handles advanced tasks

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 the Messages app .
2. Tap More   Settings.
   • Stop notifications from other apps: Tap Notifications  Turn off All "Default settings" notifications.
   • Get notifications on your phone from 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 Messages sends pictures, videos & audio files

1. Open the Messages app .
2. Tap More options 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 the Messages app .
2. Tap More options 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 the Messages app .
2. Tap More options   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 the Messages app .
2. Open a 1:1 conversation or group message.
3. Tap More options   Details or More options     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 the Messages app .
2. At the top right, tap More options   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 off Verified SMS

Important: Verified SMS isn't available in all countries or regions.

When Verified SMS is on, Google verifies messages from participating businesses. 

Turn off verified SMS:

1. Open the Messages app .
2. Tap More options   Settings  Verified SMS.
3. Turn off Verify business message sender.

Learn how Verified SMS works.