Google Messages Gets Floating Menu and Swipe Gestures Update

Google has rolled out updates to its Messages app on Android devices. The changes include a redesigned long-press menu and new swipe gestures for checking timestamps and replying to individual messages.

The new menu, which appears as a floating option when users touch and hold a message bubble, offers various actions such as Reply, Forward, Copy, Star, Delete, Select more, and Info. The update also allows users to copy specific snippets of text by dragging selection handles after pressing on the message text twice.

The swipe gestures have been changed as well, with left-swiping anywhere in a conversation revealing timestamps and RCS encryption status for all visible messages at once. Right-swiping on a specific bubble now opens a reply option.

Google Messages users can try the new controls by following these steps: touch and hold any message bubble to open the floating menu, press on the message text again to copy part of a message, swipe left anywhere in the conversation to see timestamps, and swipe right on a specific bubble to reply.