Tada Images/Shutterstock

Whether you're fighting for more privacy or want to try new features, you'll want to dig deeper into Android's Google Messages app. A few hidden toggles can turn off RCS indicators, schedule your texts, or auto-delete verification codes to help conceal your activity. It's worth a closer look, especially since Google Messages is now the predominant texting app on Android phones; it used to compete with Samsung Messages.

But times have changed: over the last year, the Korean giant has made Google Messages the default messaging app on its Samsung phones and officially retired Samsung Messages in U.S. markets in July 2026. As such, Google Messages isn't going anywhere; it's proven reliable (aside from a few technical hiccups) and a core part of the Android package.…