Google Messages Gets New Swipe Gestures and Precise Copying

Google Messages is changing two gestures that Android users have relied on for years, while also introducing a redesigned long-press menu that makes copying text much more precise.

The changes started rolling out widely in September 2026. You can now swipe left in a conversation to reveal timestamps and RCS encryption information, while swiping right on an individual message starts a direct reply. Google has also redesigned the long-press menu so you can select and copy only part of a message instead of copying the entire text.

The rollout has been spotted in Google Messages version 20260910_03_RC02, although the features are being activated through Google’s server-side systems. That means two phones running the same app version may not receive the new interface at exactly the same time.

For longtime Google Messages users, the biggest adjustment is simple: replying now requires a right swipe instead of a left swipe.

Google Messages New Gestures at a Glance

Here’s how the updated controls work:

• Swipe left: Reveal timestamps and RCS encryption information for messages in the conversation.
• Swipe right on a message: Reply directly to that specific message.
• Tap a message: View delivery and read status.
• Long-press a message: Open the new floating action menu and select specific text to copy.

The redesign changes how several common actions are accessed, but the two swipe gestures are the changes most likely to affect your muscle memory.

How to See Message Timestamps in Google Messages

Previously, tapping an individual message could reveal its timestamp along with delivery information and encryption details.

That was useful when checking one message, but it became tedious when you wanted to examine several messages in a long conversation.

Google’s new interface lets you reveal the timestamps for the visible messages with a single left swipe.

To see timestamps in Google Messages:

1. Open Google Messages.
2. Open the conversation you want to check.
3. Swipe left anywhere in the conversation.
4. Timestamps will appear alongside the visible messages.
5. The interface also shows the relevant RCS encryption information.

This is particularly useful when scrolling through an older conversation and trying to determine when different messages were sent.

The change also makes it easier to notice differences between RCS and SMS messages because the encryption information can be viewed alongside the conversation rather than checking individual messages one at a time. 9to5Google and Android Authority both report the new timestamp behavior as part of the September 2026 rollout.

Tapping a message still works, but the information shown through that interaction has been reduced primarily to delivery and read status.

Google Messages Moves Swipe-to-Reply From Left to Right

This is the change longtime Google Messages users are most likely to notice.

Previously, swiping left on a message could start a direct reply. With the redesigned interface, swiping left is now used to reveal timestamps, while direct replies have moved to a right swipe.

To reply to a specific message:

1. Open a conversation in Google Messages.
2. Find the message you want to answer.
3. Place your finger directly on the message bubble.
4. Swipe right.
5. The selected message will appear as a quoted reply above the text field.
6. Type your response and send it.

The gesture requires some precision. Starting the swipe on the message bubble is important; swiping elsewhere in the conversation may simply move the conversation instead.

Google also appears to provide a visual hint for users adjusting to the new controls. When you tap a message, timestamps can briefly peek into view, helping indicate that the left-swipe behavior has changed.

So if your muscle memory keeps sending you in the wrong direction, that’s expected. Left is now for timestamps; right is for replies.

Google Messages Finally Lets You Copy Part of a Text

The gesture changes aren’t the only significant update.

Google is also rolling out a redesigned long-press menu that makes copying information from lengthy messages much easier.

Previously, selecting Copy generally meant copying the entire message. If someone sent you a long text containing an address, tracking number, booking reference, phone number, or verification code, you had to paste everything somewhere and remove the unwanted text manually.

The new interface lets you select only the portion you need.

How to copy specific text from a Google Messages conversation

1. Long-press the message bubble.
2. Select the text inside the message.
3. Drag the selection handles across the exact words, numbers, or characters you want.
4. Tap Copy.

You can then paste only the selected portion wherever you need it.

For example, imagine someone sends:

Your delivery will arrive at 25 Main Street, Springfield, between 2 PM and 4 PM. Tracking number: 84729163.

Instead of copying the entire message and deleting everything else, you can select just 84729163 and copy it.

That’s a small change, but it can save considerable time when dealing with addresses, tracking numbers, confirmation codes, URLs, phone numbers, and other information buried inside long messages.

The New Google Messages Long-Press Menu

Google has also moved the message actions into a floating menu rather than relying on the previous toolbar at the top of the screen.

Depending on the type of content selected, the menu can include:

• Reply
• Forward
• Copy
• Star
• Delete
• Select more
• Info
• Save for supported photos
• Remix for supported photos

The menu appears next to the selected message, while the surrounding interface is visually blurred. The emoji reaction row and Photomoji-related controls remain available separately.

The new design was widely spotted in the stable version 20260910_03_RC02 on September 24, 2026. Google began testing the redesigned menu earlier, but its availability is now expanding to stable-channel users.

Why the New Copying Feature Is More Useful Than It Looks

The ability to copy part of a message sounds minor, but it addresses one of the more annoying limitations in Google Messages.

Consider messages containing:

• Shipping addresses
• Package tracking numbers
• Reservation codes
• Verification codes
• Phone numbers
• URLs
• Meeting locations
• Wi-Fi information
• Product model numbers
• Technical commands or code

Previously, copying the entire message often meant performing a second editing step after pasting.

With text selection inside the message, you can grab the exact information immediately.

For users who frequently receive long automated messages, this may be one of the most practical parts of Google’s redesign.

Samsung Galaxy Users Are Getting Google Messages Changes Too

The changes aren’t limited to Pixel phones.

Samsung has been moving users toward Google Messages following the discontinuation of Samsung Messages on newer Galaxy devices. Samsung’s own support documentation says Samsung Messages stopped being supported on Galaxy devices running Android 12 or later starting in July 2026, with Google Messages becoming the recommended messaging app.

Samsung says existing conversations can be transferred when users switch from Samsung Messages to Google Messages.

That makes the new Google Messages interface particularly relevant to Galaxy owners who recently moved to Google’s messaging app.

Reports of the September interface have also appeared on Samsung devices, including Galaxy S-series phones.

What Happens When You Tap a Message Now?

Tapping a message hasn’t disappeared, but its purpose has changed.

Under the new interface, tapping a message can show delivery and read information rather than acting as the primary way to expose timestamps.

If you want to see timestamps across the conversation, the faster method is now:

Swipe left.

If you want to reply to a particular message:

Swipe right on the bubble.

This effectively divides the old message interaction into two separate gestures.

Why You May Not Have the New Google Messages Features Yet

Don’t worry if your Google Messages app looks unchanged.

Google is using a server-side rollout for at least part of the redesign, meaning installing the latest application doesn’t necessarily make every new feature immediately available.

The new interface has been widely reported with Google Messages 20260910_03_RC02, but the exact app version alone doesn’t guarantee that the feature flag has reached your device.

Try these steps if the update isn’t showing:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Search for Google Messages.
3. Install the latest available update.
4. Open Settings on your Android phone.
5. Go to Apps > Messages.
6. Tap Force stop.
7. Open Google Messages again.
8. Open a conversation and test the left and right swipe gestures.

9to5Google specifically recommends force-stopping Messages if the new interface hasn’t appeared, because doing so can prompt the application to check for the server-side configuration.

If the gestures still aren’t available, you may simply have to wait for Google’s gradual rollout to reach your account or device.

Google Messages Is Changing the Gestures, Not Just the Design

The September 2026 Google Messages update is more than another visual refresh.

The redesigned long-press menu solves a practical problem by allowing users to copy specific sections of a message. Meanwhile, the new swipe controls make conversation metadata easier to inspect without opening each message individually.

The trade-off is the change longtime users will notice immediately:

Left swipe = timestamps and encryption information.

Right swipe = direct reply.

It may take a few days to retrain your muscle memory, especially if you’ve been using Google Messages for years. But once you get used to the new controls, checking timestamps and copying information from long messages should require fewer taps.

Google Messages September 2026 Update: Quick Summary

The rollout is gradual, so the new controls may not appear immediately even if you’re running a compatible version of Google Messages.

If you use Google Messages regularly, the right-swipe reply gesture is the main change to remember.