There are many different messaging platforms on Android these days. This is to keep you up to date with the latest announcements. What Sapp, Facebook Messenger, Integra, are just a few examples.
Messaging on Android. SMS
There is one messaging platform that still works on all available phones and that is text/SMS messaging. Unfortunately, many of the default SMS apps on phones are often not that great. The good news is that there are several alternatives that start working with Google’s Android messaging service.
The app comes by default on Pixel devices and several other phones, but if yours doesn’t come with it, you can easily download it from your device. The service is clean, easy to use and RCS compliant. What’s more, it includes some features that you may not be using yet, and you definitely should.
Add a theme to your text. Messaging on Android
When you write an SMS message you usually don’t have many options. Well, in Android Messages you have some extra features available.
For example, you can add a “Subject” to your text and mark it as “Urgent”. To do so, write your message and instead of pressing “Send”, press and hold it. This will have the effect of displaying the “Subject” option at the top of the text box.
If you choose to add a “Subject”, the text will behave like an MMS, although the recipient should see it as normal text.
=> Join the Waitlist for Early Access.
Easily block someone. Messaging on Android
Is someone bothering you? With Android messages, you can easily block someone. And there are two ways to do it.
You can long press on the conversation and then tap on the “Block” button which looks like a circle with a strikethrough appearing at the top. Or you can, on the other hand, open the conversation, tap on the three-dot menu in the upper right corner and tap “People and Options”. Choose “Block and report spam.”
In both cases, a pop-up will appear indicating that you will no longer receive calls or text messages from the person in question, and therefore the conversation will be archived.
You can also choose to report the number, in which case “the spammer’s last message” (up to 10) and their number go to Google. Your last SMS can go to your provider.
Send money / share your location by messaging on Android
Messaging on Android lets you easily share photos and find stickers when you’re having a conversation. But there are more hidden options that you may want to explore, such as:
- Send/request money via Google Pay (if you have set up your Pay app).
- Share your location.
- Record a short video message.
Switch to dark mode with one touch
Following the release of Android 9.0 Pie, Google has also been busy updating some of its Android system apps, including Google Phone and Android Messages.
In Messages, the search giant has introduced a new dark mode that changes the overall color scheme of the app to black. It is quite simple to switch to the new theme.
In the app, tap on the three-dot menu on the right and choose “Enable Dark Mode” from there. If you want to go back to the previous one, access the three-dot menu again and tap “Turn off dark mode”. It is easy!
Archive old conversations
If SMS is still your main way of communicating with others, your message list will probably get clogged up fast. Android Messages gives you the option to clean up your inbox without having to get rid of your messages forever.
So instead of consigning them to perpetual oblivion, you can simply archive them and make them disappear from view.
To do so, long press on a conversation, then tap the archive button that appears in the top right corner. Once you’ve archived a few conversations, you can tap the three-dot menu in the top right and tap “Archived” to view or restore them.
Web text
If you’ve ever used What Sapp for the web, Android Messages for the web works in a similar way. You will need to go to messages.android.com on your computer. Here you will see a large QR code on the right side of the page.
Open your Android messages on your phone and tap on the three-dot icon at the top right. You must go to “Messaging for Web” and then you must “Scan QR code”. Point the camera at the QR code on the other device. In a second or two, the two should be linked. And you will notice that all your conversations will start appearing in the left column of your browser window.
Next function
Android Messages will soon get an expanded search feature that will make it easier for users to search through old conversations.
Just tap the search icon and select a specific contact to see your message history with them, including one-on-one conversations, but also photos, videos, and links you’ve shared.
The feature should start rolling out to users very soon.
Tanner Abraham
Data Scientist and Software Engineer with a focus on experimental projects in new budding technologies that incorporate machine learning and quantum computing into web applications.
=> Join the Waitlist for Early Access.