What is custom bubbles feature in Google Messages and how to use it

Recently Google started widely rolling out the custom bubbles feature in Google Messages . The feature allows you to personalise the chat background and message bubble colours for RCS chats , is still under development and rolling out gradually to users. Here's what you might experience depending on your situation:

You have custom bubbles

• If you're among the lucky users who have received the update: You can customise the chat experience by following these steps:
  
• Open an RCS chat conversation (indicated by a blue chat icon instead of green for SMS).
  
• Tap the three-dot overflow menu in the top right corner of the chat window.
  
• Look for the option labeled "Change colours". If you see it, you have access to custom bubbles.
  
• Tapping "Change colours" will open a new screen with various colour options for the chat background and message bubbles.
  

Choose your desired colour scheme and preview it at the top of the screen before applying it to the conversation.

• Some tips to follow:
  
• You can currently choose from a predefined set of colours, including a dynamic option that matches your Material You theme on Android.
  
• The custom bubble colours only apply to the visual appearance within your own Messages app. The recipient won't see the same colour scheme unless they also have custom bubbles enabled on their device.
  

You don't have custom bubbles yet

• If you haven't received the update yet: Don't worry, the feature is still rolling out. Here's what you can do:
  
• Ensure you're using the latest version of the Google Messages app. Check for updates in the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS, if available).
  
• Enable Chat features (Android only): In the Google Messages app, tap the three-dot overflow menu, then "Settings" > "Chat features" and ensure it's turned on.