Change Messages notifications & settings

Important: You're using a custom Android version. If these steps don't work for you, check with your device manufacturer.

Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 8.0 and up or on Pixel watches with the Pixel watch Android companion app version 4.1 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

1. Open Google Messages 👁 Image
   .
2. Tap your profile photo or icon 👁 and then
   Settings.
   • Stop notifications from other apps: Tap Notifications 👁 and then
     Turn off All "Default settings" notifications.
   • Get notifications on your phone from Google Messages: Tap Notifications 👁 and then
     Turn on Incoming messages.
   • Stop sound notifications when you send messages: Turn off Hear outgoing message sounds.

Learn how to change options for specific people.

1. Open your device's Settings app 👁 Image
   .
2. Tap Apps 👁 and then
   Default apps 👁 and then
   SMS app.

To make your font size smaller or larger:

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Select Accessibility 👁 and then
   Text and display.
3. Select Font size.
4. Use the slider to choose your font size.

To make items on your screen smaller or larger:

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Select Accessibility 👁 and then
    Text and display 👁 and then
    Display size.
3. Use the slider to choose your display size. 

1. Open Google Messages 👁 Image
   .
2. Tap your profile photo or icon 👁 and then
   Settings 👁 and then
   Advanced.
   • Send a message or a file separately to each person in a conversation: Tap Group messaging 👁 and then
     Send an SMS reply to all recipients and get individual replies (mass text).
   • Automatically download files in messages: Turn on Auto-download MMS.
   • Automatically download files when data roams: Turn on Auto-download MMS when roaming.

1. Open Google Messages 👁 Image
   .
2. Tap your profile photo or icon 👁 and then
   Settings 👁 and then
   Advanced.
   • Change special characters to simple characters: Turn on Use simple characters.
   • Change the phone number you use to send files: Tap Phone number.

You can keep conversations accessible with bubble notifications. When you pin bubbles to your home screen, you can get messages from contacts in fewer steps.

1. Open Google Messages 👁 Image
   .
2. Tap your profile photo or icon 👁 and then
   Settings 👁 and then
   Bubbles.
3. Choose:
   • Get notifications for all conversations: Tap All conversations can bubble.
   • Get notifications for certain contacts: Tap Selected conversations can bubble.
   • Stop all notifications: Tap Nothing can bubble.

Tips:

• Change bubble settings for specific contacts: Open a conversation 👁 and then
  Tap More options 👁 and then
  Details 👁 and then
  Notifications.
• Dismiss a notification: Touch and hold the bubble, then drag it to the bottom of your screen.

1. Open Google Messages 👁 Image
   .
2. Open a 1:1 conversation or group message.
3. Tap More 👁 More
   👁 and then
   Details or More 👁 More
   👁 and then
   Group details.
   • Stop message notifications: Tap Notifications 👁 and then
     Silent.
   • Get priority notifications: Tap Notifications 👁 and then
     Priority.
   • Block messages from the phone number or group: Tap Block & report spam 👁 and then
     OK.
     Optional: Check the box next to “Report spam” to send a spam report.
   • Add people to the conversation: Tap Add people.

Link previews from websites can be turned on or off:

1. Open Google Messages 👁 Image
   .
2. At the top right, tap your profile photo or icon 👁 and then
   Settings 👁 and then
   Automatic previews.
3. Turn off Show all previews.

• Optional: To turn off previews when you send or get a link in a conversation, tap Show only web link previews.

Tip: Only share links you trust. URLs can include personal details, like your location or bank information.

Learn how the previews for links are created.

Important: These steps only work on Android 10 and up.

1. Open your device's Settings app 👁 Image
   .
2. Tap Display & touch.
3. Turn Dark theme on or off.

When you opt in, you allow Google to automatically verify your phone's number every now and then. You can also opt out at any time.

1. Open your Google Settings. Depending on your phone:
   • Open your phone's Settings app 👁 and then
     Google.
   • Open a separate app called Google Settings.
2. Tap Mobile data & messaging 👁 and then
   Phone Number Verification.
3. Choose whether to automatically verify the phone's number.