Google is continuing to refine the design and functionality of its Google Messages app, and the new feature now comes in the form of a redesigned “View Details” page. Earlier this year, beta version of Google Messages app introduced hints of this new UI, but it is rolling out more widely form today and it has a cleaner and more informative experience to users.
Previously, when you long-pressed a message, tapped the three-dot menu, and clicked on View Details, you would only receive a simple toast message with limited details. It revealed the basic message (RCS, SMS, or MMS), the phone number of a sender and a recipient, and the date and time the message was received.
With the updated design, “View Details” button can now be opened on the full screen in two parts as the interface is more readable.
The upper part of the screen displays the actual content of the message, with emoji reactions to messages being shown as well. It means that you will easily be able to review the whole picture without going back to the chat window.
The lower half gives more detailed contact information, including profile pictures, display names, and more detailed delivery and read information.
With Group chat, you are now able to know who received the message or has read it. When you see a reply, the original message will also be displayed, and you will not have to scroll back to a long conversation just to find what the reply was talking about.
One more useful feature is a collapsible contacts list so that the interface would not be clean by large group chats. It make it more easier to manage message information when more than one participant is involved.
This new UI is already available in the beta of the Google Messages application (version messages.android_20250223_01_RC00.phone.openbeta_dynamic). To verify the version that you have, you should check Settings > Apps > See all apps > Messages, and scroll down to see the version number.
The updated View details is not only more easier to get the information on a message but also brings a more refined, modern appearance to the application. It remains in beta form and should expand in next few weeks as Google continues to improve the Messages experience.
