3 minute read

Long-pressing a message in Google Messages no longer opens a toolbar at the top of the screen. It opens a floating menu with the actions listed in a vertical list, and a second long-press on the text lets you copy only part of a message. Google says the redesign has officially launched, so it is no longer a beta-only feature.

Checked October 16, 2026 against press reports and Google’s help page. Nothing here was tested in the app.

What the old menu did, and what replaced it

Before the redesign, long-pressing a message showed a toolbar at the top of the screen with three actions on the right and everything else in a three-dot overflow menu, 9to5Google reports. That was awkward on large phones, which the redesign targets with one-handed use in mind.

The new menu blurs the background and shows a vertical list. For a text message the list holds Reply, Forward, Copy, Star, Delete, Select more and Info. For photos it adds Remix and Save, according to 9to5Google’s first report in January. The emoji row above the message is unchanged. If there is not enough room for the list, the selected message moves higher on the screen with a bouncy animation, and 9to5Google also noted haptic feedback when the menu opens.

How to copy part of a message

Previously Copy took the whole message. After the redesign, 9to5Google describes this sequence:

  1. Long-press a message to open the new menu.
  2. Long-press again directly on the text in that message.
  3. Drag the selection handles to highlight the part you want.
  4. In the box that appears, choose Copy, Translate or Select All.

Editing a sent message

Google’s help page for updating a sent message says you can edit an RCS, SMS or MMS message after sending it, in the app only, and that the ability expires after 15 minutes. An “Edited” label appears above the message for both the sender and the recipient. On SMS, the recipient gets another message starting with an asterisk. Editing also works in one-on-one chats with iPhone users who have RCS turned on.

The help page still tells you to touch and hold a sent message and tap Edit at the top of the screen. One outlet, The Tech Basket, says Google’s announcement lists editing a recently sent message in the new menu. Which one you see may depend on whether the redesign has reached your app.

New swipe gestures in the same rollout

gHacks and Android Central report two gestures arriving alongside the menu. Swiping left in a conversation shows message timestamps, and Android Central adds the RCS encryption status. Swiping right on a specific bubble replies to that message.

When you get it

The timeline from the reports:

  • January 2026: testing began with a beta build, per 9to5Google.
  • August 6: 9to5Google saw the redesign expand in the beta, in build 20260731_00_RC00, through a server-side update.
  • September: users reported it on the stable app. Android Headlines cites stable build v20260903_04.
  • September 30: 9to5Google reports that Google announced the redesign has officially launched.

Because the rollout is server-side, updating Google Messages from the Play Store may not show the new menu right away. Since the feature has reached the stable app, joining the beta is not needed for it. If you do not see the menu yet, check back after updating the app.

Sources:

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