Google Messages has started rolling out custom “Chat themes” with customizable backgrounds. The update appears in the chat menu, replacing the earlier “Change colors” option and adding both color palettes and wallpapers that can be set for individual threads.
Users can choose from themed wallpapers in categories such as Animals, Architecture, Cityscapes, Landscapes, and more, or set a photo from their gallery. Like other mainstream messaging apps, the new experience keeps a conversation preview at the top of the picker so people can see how messages look before they confirm a theme. Color selections also work with Android’s Dynamic Color system to match chat bubbles and UI elements to the wallpaper and system colors.
Chat Themes are limited to RCS conversations, so standard SMS/MMS threads can’t be customized. Importantly, the theme changes apply only to the local device, so editing a chat’s appearance won’t change how it looks for your conversation partner(s), unlike Apple’s iMessage customizations.
The update’s rollout appears to be gradual, with the latest Google Messages beta already showing the Chat Themes panel on quite a few Samsung Galaxy phones and other Android devices.
This update aligns with Google’s ongoing push to make its RCS chats more competitive with other texting apps, like WhatsApp and iMessage.
