Google Messages May Get Custom Backgrounds, Fix Smart Reply Confusion

Google has been working on Samsung-style chat customization features for its Messages app for a while. A fresh report now suggests that development has moved further, with signs pointing to support for custom chat backgrounds. In addition, the company is looking to clear up confusion around Smart Reply settings.

Google Messages could soon get a customization upgrade

While digging through the beta version of Google Messages, folks over at Android Authority reportedly found new evidence for upcoming customization tweaks. The beta includes a receiver in the app manifest that is tied to chat background support. This suggests you will be able to upload custom wallpapers for individual chats.

A few weeks ago, the code strings in the Google Messages beta app hinted at the development of the custom chat background. Now that a dedicated receiver has come to light, the feature appears to be moving closer to launch. This comes at a time when Samsung Messages is being phased out in July 2026.

The Korean firm’s messaging app offers several chat customization options, including custom wallpapers. This means some users switching to Google Messages could miss those features. Thankfully, Google now aims to bring some of those personalization experiences to its own messaging platform.

Furthermore, Google appears to be tweaking the Smart Reply settings page UI. The feature lets you either send quick replies instantly or open them as drafts (can be edited before sending). However, when it comes to activating either option in settings, the UI may confuse some users.

To make things clearer, Google is reportedly reorganizing the settings options. There is a dedicated Smart Reply page that shows two options: “Tap to draft” and “Tap to send.” The former option opens the suggested reply in the text field first, while the latter sends the suggested reply directly.

As of now, it’s unclear when Google plans to roll out these new features to everyone. However, the latest developments suggest the launch may not take much longer.