9 Google Messages settings I change on every new Android phone – and why

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Google Messages has several settings worth checking.
• PSA: Gemini chats in Messages are not end-to-end encrypted.
• Also, small changes can make texting cleaner and less distracting.

Google Messages is one of those apps that seem simple enough, until they aren’t. It has settings for RCS chats, read receipts, typing indicators, verification codes, nudity warnings, Gemini, spam filtering, bubbles, and so much more. That’s a lot for a texting app.

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So, when I set up a new Android phone, I always do a quick Google Messages check and adjust a few things before firing off my first messages. My goal is to text whom I want as easily, privately, and securely as I can, with minimal interruptions and data sharing. Why am I using a Google app then? I know. But there are ways to improve Messages and get a much better…