Although Google Messages provides a wide range of functionalities, its design has seemed somewhat outdated, particularly when compared to applications like WhatsApp. The latter allows for extensive chat customization and the ability to set custom images as chat backgrounds. While Google’s messaging app has not yet included such features, a report from April indicated that this was about to change.

In a recent beta version of Google Messages (messages.android_20260523_00_RC00), it has been noted that ‘Chat themes’ have been added to the three-dot menu, replacing the previous ‘Change colors’ option.

Enhance your chats with color

As illustrated above, the Chat themes section features a variety of colors, along with a selection of preloaded wallpapers from Google (including Cityscape, Art, Landscape, Space, Vibes, Textures, and Abstract). A significant new feature is the ‘Choose a photo’ option, which allows users to select an image from their Gallery to use as the chat background.

This feature also includes a handy ‘Reset to default’ button on the Preview page, which is useful if you’ve explored all the preset background categories and wish to start over. As noted by the publication, certain areas of the chat may become obscured, particularly when a darker wallpaper is used.

It will be intriguing to see if Google Messages addresses this issue before the feature is widely released or if it will leave it up to users to select a wallpaper that complements the on-screen text and other elements.

A similar feature is already available in Samsung Messages, which will be discontinued in July, with Samsung advising users to transition to Google’s messaging app. Therefore, if you are a Samsung Messages user who is dissatisfied with the absence of customizable chat backgrounds, this forthcoming update to Google Messages should be welcomed news.

Aside from a slight issue with darker backgrounds, this new feature appears to function correctly. With this in consideration, it is anticipated that the feature will soon be available in the beta channel, allowing a substantial number of Google Messages users the opportunity to test it out.

It is hoped that Google will not delay too much in introducing this feature to the stable channel, especially since many other messaging applications already provide a comparable chat customization feature. This enhancement will greatly surpass the current chat customization options, which only permit changes to the colors of backgrounds and bubbles, offering limited choices.