Google Messages is finally getting the chat customization feature everyone wanted
Google Messages is finally getting the chat customization feature everyone wanted
https://www.androidpolice.com/google-messages-custom-chat-theme-wallpapers-leak/
Publish Date: 2026-05-29 12:59:00
Source Domain: www.androidpolice.com
Looking into a recent beta of Google Messages (messages.android_20260523_00_RC00), the publication has discovered the addition of “Chat themes” within the three-dot menu, replacing the existing “Change colors” option.
Add some color to your chats
As you can see above, the Chat themes page comprises a collection of colors, followed by a selection of preloaded wallpapers from Google (Cityscape, Art, Landscape, Space, Vibes, Textures, and Abstract). The big addition here is the Choose a photo pill, which lets you add a picture from your Gallery as the chat background.
Credit: Android Authority
Credit: Android Authority
This tool also comes with a convenient Reset to default button on the Preview page if you’ve gone through all the categories of preset backgrounds and want to start afresh. As the site rightly points out, some portions of the chat can be obscured, especially when using a darker wallpaper.
It will be interesting to see whether Google Messages fixes this ahead of the feature’s broader rollout or leaves it to users’ best judgment to choose a wallpaper that won’t clash with the onscreen text and other elements.
A feature like this already exists in Samsung Messages, which is going away for good in July, with Samsung notifying users to switch over to Google’s messaging app. So if you’re a Samsung Messages user who is disappointed with the lack of customizable chat backgrounds, this upcoming addition to Google Messages should come as good news.
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