FIRST things you NEED to setup in Google Messages!

Introduction

Setting up Google Messages effectively can enhance your messaging experience. This tutorial walks you through essential settings and features to configure first, ensuring that you get the most out of the app.

Step 1: Enable Chat Features and RCS

• Open Google Messages on your device.
• Tap on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Settings."
• Navigate to "Chat features."
• Toggle on "Enable chat features" to activate RCS (Rich Communication Services), which offers enhanced messaging features like read receipts and typing indicators.
• Ensure your phone number is correctly linked to enable these features.

Step 2: Manage Chat Categories and OTP Deletion

• In the "Settings" menu, go to "Chat categories."
• You can categorize messages into different sections such as "Personal," "Business," or "Promotions."
• To delete One-Time Passwords (OTPs) automatically, look for an option like "Delete OTP messages" and toggle it on. This helps keep your inbox organized.

Step 3: Enable Bubbles for Conversations

• Return to the "Settings" menu and select "Bubbles."
• Enable the bubble feature, which allows you to keep conversations open in a floating window while using other apps.
• This is particularly useful for multitasking and staying connected without switching back and forth between apps.

Step 4: Activate Voice Transcription

• Go back to the "Settings" menu and select "Voice transcription."
• Turn on the voice input feature to convert spoken words into text messages.
• This can be a time-saver and is great for hands-free messaging.

Step 5: Configure Suggestions

• In the "Settings" menu, find "Suggestions."
• Enable "Smart Reply" to receive suggested replies based on the context of the conversation.
• This feature can speed up your messaging process significantly.

Step 6: Change Swipe Actions

• In the "Settings" menu, look for "Swipe actions."
• Customize swipe gestures for actions such as archiving or deleting messages.
• Choose actions that best fit your messaging style to enhance efficiency.

Step 7: Set Up iPhone Reactions

• Navigate to the "Settings" and find "iPhone reactions."
• Enable this feature to view and send reactions similar to those on iPhone.
• This allows for richer communication, especially with friends who use iPhones.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can optimize your Google Messages settings for a better messaging experience. Start by enabling chat features and customizing your preferences to enjoy seamless communication. Explore additional features as you become familiar with the app, and keep an eye out for updates that may enhance your messaging capabilities even further.