How to Customize Swipe Gestures on Google Messages

ByJim Miller

Google continues to enhance its RCS Messaging service on Android with new features. One of the major updates allows users to configure swipe gestures on the Google Messages app. Previously, swipe gestures were available but couldn't be customized for specific actions. Now, with the latest update, you can personalize the swipe gestures on Google Messages to suit your needs. Here's how you can configure swipe gestures on Google Messages.

Configuring Swipe Gestures on Google Messages

  1. Update the Google Messages app to version 20221011 or above. If you haven't updated yet, simply update the app to the latest version from the Google Play Store.
  2. Open the Messages app and tap on the profile icon located at the top right corner.
  3. Select the “Messages settings” option from the drop-down menu.
  4. In the Settings menu, scroll down and choose the “Swipe actions” option.
  5. Here, you can configure both the swipe right and swipe left actions. To customize the swipe right gesture, tap on the “Customize” option next to it.
  6. In the pop-up menu, you can choose between “Archive,” “Delete,” or “Off” as the action for the swipe gesture. Select the option that suits your preferences. Similarly, you can also customize the swipe left action.

Configuring Swipe Gestures on Google Messages App on Samsung Galaxy Phones

Due to the collaboration between Samsung and Google, the Messages app works slightly differently on Samsung Galaxy phones compared to other Android devices. Here's how you can configure swipe gestures on the Google Messages app specifically on Samsung Galaxy phones.

  1. Ensure that you have the latest version of the Google Messages app installed on your Samsung phone.
  2. Open the Messages app and tap on the kebab menu (three-dot menu) located in the search bar of the app.
  3. From the pop-up menu, select the “Settings” option.
  4. Scroll down and choose the “Swipe actions” option.
  5. Tap on the “Customize” option next to Swipe right or swipe left. In the pop-up menu, select either “Archive,” “Delete,” or “Off” as the action for the swipe gesture.
  6. Selecting the “Off” option will disable the swipe gestures entirely.

Other Features Along With Swipe Gestures

In addition to swipe gestures, the latest update of Google Messages brings several new features to enhance the messaging experience.

  1. When an iOS user reacts with an emoji, you will now see it as a proper reaction instead of just a text message.
  2. The app includes a built-in YouTube player, allowing you to watch videos in a pop-up window without having to open the YouTube app.
  3. You can respond to individual messages by selecting them.
  4. Voice messages will be automatically transcribed into text, enabling you to read them without playing them.
  5. You have the ability to set reminders for messages to be read later.
  6. You can star/bookmark important messages for easy reference.
  7. The Google Messages app has a new logo, giving it a fresh look.

Quick Swipe Gestures on the Google Messages App

While the new update of Google Messages introduces various useful features to compete with iMessage, swipe gestures remain Google's unique touch that is not available even on iMessage. Currently, swipe gestures can only be used for archiving or deleting messages. However, it would be great to have more options, such as sending messages to spam, setting reminders, marking them as read, or categorizing them, similar to the Gmail app.

With the ability to customize swipe gestures on Google Messages, you can streamline your messaging experience and make it more efficient. Update the app, configure the swipe gestures according to your preferences, and enjoy a personalized messaging interface.