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Google Messages updating ‘New chat’ contacts list to show who has RCS

Google Messages is rolling out a tweaked “New chat” page to let you immediately check which contacts have RCS enabled.

After tapping the “Start chat” FAB (floating action button) in the bottom-right corner, you’re now taken to a “New chat” page. This list of all your contacts was previously titled “New conversation.” The term “chat” is more closely aligned with RCS.

The big change here is how Google now highlights contacts that have “RCS” enabled with a badge at the right-hand side. Additionally, the number is further emphasized with Dynamic Color theming, while SMS/MMS conversations just have black or white text depending on the system theme.

Old vs. new

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Previously, you’d have to go ahead and tap the number to see if it says “Text message” or “RCS message” in the bottom text field. This update saves you a step, and lets you more effectively take a straw poll of RCS adoption in your family/friend group.

This started more widely rolling out to beta users (version 20250527_01_RC00) of Google Messages over the past few days

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Avatar for Abner Li Abner Li

Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: [email protected]