Google is changing two of the most basic gestures in Google Messages, the default texting app on many Android phones, alongside a redesigned long-press menu that lets users copy just part of a message. The rollout is gradual through a server-side switch, so two phones on the same app version may not get the new interface at the same time (9to5Google, Android Central).
The swipe gestures are reversing
| Action | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Swipe left | Reply to a message | Show timestamps and RCS encryption status for all visible messages |
| Swipe right on a bubble | - | Reply to that message |
| Tap a message | Full details: time, read receipts, RCS lock | Delivery and read status only; timestamps briefly peek as a hint |
| Long-press | Toolbar at the top of the screen | Floating menu beside the message, background blurred |
Google began testing swipe-based timestamps in 2024 and moved the redesign through beta before this wider rollout, which outlets tie to app version 20260910_03_RC02, though the server-side flag decides who sees it. Some users dislike the change: one commenter on 9to5Google complained that timestamps disappear once they let go of the swipe.
A more precise long-press menu
Long-pressing a message now opens a floating menu beside the bubble with Reply, Forward, Copy, Star, Delete, Select more and Info, plus Save and Remix for photos. Google says the actions work across text, images, videos, links, files, locations and contact cards, and announced on October 1 that the redesign had officially launched (9to5Google).
The more useful change is inside that interaction: pressing a message a second time lets users drag selection handles to copy only part of it, such as a verification code or an address, instead of copying the whole block and deleting the rest. Google called partial copy one of its most requested features; it had been in staged testing since earlier in 2026 (Android Authority).
The biggest adjustment
The reversed swipe direction for replies is the change most likely to trip up longtime users, since it inverts a gesture that has stayed the same for years. Google's brief timestamp peek after a tap is meant to help people notice the new behaviour, but muscle memory will take time.
What to watch next
Because the rollout depends on a server-side toggle, there is no fixed date by which every user will see it. The floating long-press menu is the quickest sign the changes have reached a phone.
