Google Messages is rolling out a notable update in October 2025, focusing on enhancing security, usability, and cross-platform messaging capabilities. These changes offer improvements in encryption, user interface design, and protection against scams.
Encryption and Security Enhancements
Google Messages October 2025 update enhances encryption with Messaging Layer Security for cross-platform end-to-end protection. It also introduces Key Verifier to confirm contact identities and spam link detection to warn against risky links, boosting overall message security.[2][10][11]
Messaging Layer Security Protocol
Google Messages introduces support for Messaging Layer Security (MLS) under Universal Profile 3.0. This protocol enables end-to-end encrypted Rich Communication Services (RCS) messages to be exchanged securely between Android and iOS devices. Users can verify encryption status by long-pressing a message and viewing the “Encryption Protocol” section; a value of “0” indicates existing encryption, while “1” indicates MLS encryption is active.[2]
Key Verifier for Contact Authentication
A new Key Verifier feature allows users to verify contacts’ identities using public encryption keys in QR code form. This tool helps prevent impersonation scams, including those caused by SIM swap attacks, by marking contacts with unverified keys accordingly in Google Contacts and Messages. Users can scan or display QR codes via the Details page.[5][2]
Spam Link Detection
Google Messages now warns users when clicking links in suspected spam messages and blocks access to potentially harmful sites. Users can mark messages as “not spam” if flagged incorrectly. This protection is currently available worldwide.[2][5]
Read More: Why Google Making Smartphones Raises Concerns
User Interface and Experience Updates
Google Messages has undergone a series of design updates intended to make messaging more intuitive and visually cohesive. The interface now embraces Material 3 Expressive principles, offering cleaner layouts and improved navigation.
Fullscreen Account Menu
The previous semi-transparent overlay account menu has been replaced by a fullscreen Material 3 Expressive menu. This streamlined interface includes shortcuts to Settings, Your Profile, Archived conversations, Spam and Blocked messages, Mark all as read, and Device pairing.[2]
Image Viewer Redesign
Photos sent simultaneously are grouped within message threads. The fullscreen image viewer now features a blurred background with previews of adjacent images and a new bottom row for reacting to images.[2]
Read Receipts Redesign
Read receipts appear as white circular icons located at the bottom-right of message bubbles and images. Icons indicate message states such as sending, sent, delivered, and read, improving clarity.[2]
Standalone Gallery Access
The app adds a separate gallery grid accessible from the ‘plus’ menu, allowing users to browse images independently from the combined camera and gallery interface.[2]
Wear OS Interface Update
Google Messages for Wear OS has been modernized pre-Wear OS 6 launch, featuring pill-shaped buttons for emoji, microphone, and keyboard, grouped suggested replies, a bolder “Start chat” prompt, and updated read receipt visuals.[3][2]
Related Topics: October 2025 Google System Updates bring new features to Android
Additional Functional Enhancements
- Users can edit messages within 15 minutes of sending.
- Features like Magic Rewrite and Magic Compose assist in drafting messages.
- Text field limits have increased for more extensive communications.
- Options to customize contact photos and chat bubbles are available.
- The app supports sending media at original quality and improved media receiving performance.
- The built-in voice recorder includes noise cancellation and selectable voice moods.
- AI-powered scam detection provides real-time alerts.
- An unsubscribe option for SMS and RCS spam has been added.[5][2]
