2 minute read

Google Messages began rolling out Chat themes in late August 2026. They let you change the bubble color and the wallpaper of an individual conversation. The theme appears only on your own phone, so the other person, or the other members of a group chat, see no change.

Checked October 20, 2026 against Android Authority, Android Headlines and Indian Television’s report. The rollout is gradual, so menu names and availability may differ on your phone.

What you need

Android Authority reports that RCS must be enabled, that themes are set per conversation, and that they are visible only to you. To check RCS, Indian Television’s report gives this path: open Google Messages, tap your profile icon, choose Messages settings, then RCS chats, and confirm Turn on RCS chats is on. Update Google Messages from Google Play first, since the feature arrives with newer versions.

How to set a chat theme

Per Indian Television and Android Headlines:

  1. Open the conversation you want to change.
  2. Tap the contact or group name at the top, or use the three-dot menu in the upper right, and choose Chat theme.
  3. Pick a color palette for the bubbles.
  4. Choose a wallpaper from Google’s categories, such as Animals and Space, or tap Choose a photo to use an image from your gallery. Tap Next to preview it, then Apply.
  5. To undo it, open Chat theme again and choose Reset to default.

Android Authority says Messages can adjust the bubble colors to match a wallpaper automatically, and that you can still change the palette by hand.

If you do not see Chat theme

  • Check the conversation type. Google’s launch required RCS. One outlet reported on September 19 that Google was also enabling themes in standard SMS threads, but we could not confirm that from Google, so treat it as unconfirmed.
  • Update the app. Indian Television says the feature needs the latest version of Google Messages.
  • Wait. Android Headlines and Indian Television both describe a phased rollout, so the option can arrive on different phones at different times.

For other Messages features, such as the long-press menu and gestures, see our Android system features guide.

Sources:

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