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TechActive today · day 5

Google Messages ships swipe gestures, long-press menu as bigger redesign looms

New swipe-to-reply and timestamp controls roll out widely while APK teardowns reveal a larger home-screen and search overhaul still in testing.

newest coverage 15h agosummary written 11h ago18 pieces NewswiresGoogle NewsMastodon

What to know

  • Google Messages is rolling out a long-press menu and new swipe gestures (for timestamps and reply) to stable-channel users this week, following limited testing.
  • APK teardowns of mid-September beta builds show Google separately testing a bigger home-screen reshuffle (moving Search and Start chat buttons) and a redesigned search experience with in-chat search and full-match result lists.
  • None of the teardown-discovered home-screen or search features are confirmed for release; Google could change or abandon them before launch.
  • The new swipe-based timestamp display has prompted some user confusion since it replaces previously always-visible metadata.

Google Developer of Google MessagesAndroid Authority Outlet conducting APK teardown reportingAdamya Sharma Android Authority reporterHillary Keverenge Android Authority reporter

Google Messages ships swipe gestures, long-press menu as bigger redesign looms
Android Authority

How it unfolded 5 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 7 pieces in one hour at Sep 22, 12 AM; 18 pieces over 5 days (16 articles · 2 posts) Sep 22, 12 AM — 7 pieces · 7 articles — Google News 6, Newswires 1Sep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietSep 23, 12 AM — quietSep 23, 1 AM — quietSep 23, 2 AM — quietSep 23, 3 AM — quietSep 23, 4 AM — quietSep 23, 5 AM — quietSep 23, 6 AM — quietSep 23, 7 AM — quietSep 23, 8 AM — quietSep 23, 9 AM — quietSep 23, 10 AM — quietSep 23, 11 AM — quietSep 23, 12 PM — quietSep 23, 1 PM — quietSep 23, 2 PM — quietSep 23, 3 PM — quietSep 23, 4 PM — quietSep 23, 5 PM — quietSep 23, 6 PM — quietSep 23, 7 PM — quietSep 23, 8 PM — quietSep 23, 9 PM — quietSep 23, 10 PM — quietSep 23, 11 PM — quietSep 24, 12 AM — quietSep 24, 1 AM — quietSep 24, 2 AM — quietSep 24, 3 AM — quietSep 24, 4 AM — quietSep 24, 5 AM — quietSep 24, 6 AM — quietSep 24, 7 AM — quietSep 24, 8 AM — quietSep 24, 9 AM — quietSep 24, 10 AM — quietSep 24, 11 AM — quietSep 24, 12 PM — quietSep 24, 1 PM — quietSep 24, 2 PM — quietSep 24, 3 PM — quietSep 24, 4 PM — quietSep 24, 5 PM — quietSep 24, 6 PM — quietSep 24, 7 PM — quietSep 24, 8 PM — quietSep 24, 9 PM — quietSep 24, 10 PM — quietSep 24, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 1, Newswires 1Yesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — 5 pieces · 5 articles — Google News 5Yesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Yesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Yesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Yesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quietToday, 9 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quietToday, 11 AM — quietToday, 12 PM — quiet 12345
Sep 23Sep 24yesterdaynow · 1:38 PM ET
  1. 5

    Coverage and social posts spread word of the combined update

    Outlets and social accounts pick up and repost the rollout of the long-press menu, selective copying and swipe gestures as a single update bundle.

    “Google Messages is rolling out a redesigned long-press menu, selective text copying and updated swipe gestures. The changes make it easier for Android users to copy specific text, reply to individual messages and check timestamps.”
    — Mathrubhumi English
    • Mathrubhumi_English@mastodon.social

      Google Messages is rolling out a redesigned long-press menu, selective text copying and updated swipe gestures. The changes make it easier for Android users to copy specific text, reply to individual messages and check timestamps. https:// english.mathrubhumi.com/techno…

      Mathrubhumi_English@mastodon.socialMastodon15h agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. 4

    Swipe gestures for timestamps and reply begin rolling out

    Google Messages introduces swipe controls that reveal a message's timestamp and trigger a reply gesture, changing how chat metadata is displayed and prompting some user confusion over the new layout.

    “Google Messages now lets you swipe to check timestamps and reply to texts…”
    — DigitalTrends@flipboard.com, Social media repost of coverage · source
    1. 2 outlets Google Messages now lets you swipe to check timestamps and reply to texts

      first by digitaltrends.com, 1d ago · also 9to5Google

      1 more headline
    2. 1 outlet Where’s my timestamp? Google Messages is updating its UI, and users are confused

      first by Android Authority, 22h ago

  3. 3

    Long-press menu for message actions rolls out widely

    Google Messages' redesigned long-press menu, which adds message actions and selective text copying, reaches more users on the stable channel after prior limited testing.

    1. 4 outlets first by 9to5Google, 1d ago · also Droid Life, Android Central, Android Authority · read ↗

  4. 2 days quiet
  5. 2

    Same teardown details a redesigned Messages search experience

    The teardown also surfaces a new search landing page with preview rows for images, videos, links and places, a shortcut to search within a specific conversation, and a results page that can list every matching message instead of just one per chat.

    1. 1 outlet Google Messages is preparing its biggest search overhaul yet

      first by Android Authority, 4d ago

  6. 1

    Teardown reveals Google Messages home-screen button reshuffle

    An APK teardown of beta build messages.android_20260917_03_RC00 shows Google moving the Gemini button into the header (replacing Search there), shifting Start chat to bottom-center, and adding Search to the bottom bar, with the two bottom buttons expanding and collapsing based on scroll behavior.

    1. 1 outlet Google Messages is getting ready for a big UI shuffle (APK teardown)

      first by Android Authority, 4d ago

    2. 1 outlet Google Messages working on a new home screen with easier search access

      first by Sammy Fans, 4d ago