9 Google Messages settings I change on every new Android phone – and why
9 Google Messages settings I change on every new Android phone – and why
https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-messages-settings-i-change-on-new-android-phone-why/
Publish Date: 2026-06-12 04:51:00
Source Domain: www.zdnet.com
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Google Messages has several settings worth checking.
- PSA: Gemini chats in Messages are not end-to-end encrypted.
- Also, small changes can make texting cleaner and less distracting.
Google Messages is one of those apps that seem simple enough, until they aren’t. It has settings for RCS chats, read receipts, typing indicators, verification codes, nudity warnings, Gemini, spam filtering, bubbles, and so much more. That’s a lot for a texting app.
Also: How to share your location on Android: 5 quick and easy ways
So, when I set up a new Android phone, I always do a quick Google Messages check and adjust a few things before firing off my first messages. My goal is to text whom I want as easily, privately, and securely as I can, with minimal interruptions and data sharing. Why am I using a Google app then? I know. But there are ways to improve Messages and get a much better experience.
1. I turn off Sensitive Content Warnings (and uninstall SafetyCore)
Google’s Sensitive Content Warnings feature can detect, blur, and warn about images that may contain nudity. The warnings appear when receiving, sending, or forwarding images in a chat. All detection happens on the device, and no images are sent to Google.
But it’s powered by a controversial “Android System SafetyCore” feature that arrived quietly one day last year without Google explicitly warning users what it does. The feature is essentially an underlying system service that apps can use for on-device content detection.
Also: This silent Android feature scans your photos for ‘sensitive content’
Google said warnings are off by default for adults, but it’s one of the first things I check because I don’t want auto-generated alerts in my personal messages. I also uninstall SafetyCore on my Android phone to prevent it from taking similar actions in other apps.
- To check Sensitive Content Warnings, open Google…
