Google Messages beta on your Pixel now lets you change RCS chat colors

If you’re a Google Messages beta tester with a penchant for personalization, you’re in for a treat. Google is rolling out the ability to change the color scheme in your RCS chats, adding a vibrant new layer to your conversations. This new feature was spotted behind the scenes multiple times in recent months.

Forget those standard blue and grey bubbles. You can now tap the three-dot menu within any Google Messages conversation and select “Details,” then tap on “Change colors” to dive into a range of personalization options in RCS chats. Alternatively, you can also just tap on the contact’s name at the top of the chat and then select the option to “Change colors.” Think bold purples, bright oranges, and a variety of playful hues.

Not sure where to start? The “Default” option cleverly uses Material You to dynamically match your phone’s wallpaper, ensuring your chats integrate seamlessly with your device’s style. The option to change the color scheme in RCS chats is appearing for users on the beta versions 20240228 to 20240308. I’ve received it on my Pixel 7a as well as the OnePlus 11.

The customization doesn’t stop at the chat bubbles. The color theme you choose will transform various elements within the conversation, making for a cohesive and eye-catching experience. When you make a color switch, a handy confirmation message with a “Change” link appears at the bottom – perfect for those moments of indecision or a desire to experiment further.

Interestingly, even though I changed the color scheme from the settings, it didn’t reflect in the chat. It’s possible that this could be due to the fact that the recipient didn’t have the same feature yet. I tested this on both v20240228 and v20240308. Whatever the case, now that the feature is present, hopefully it works as expected sooner rather than later. The folks over at Android Police confirmed it worked without any major hiccups.

While the option to change colors in RCS chats is currently rolling out gradually to beta testers, don’t worry if you haven’t gotten the update yet. While those without the update won’t see your colorful themes right away, it’s likely to become widely available very soon, allowing everyone to inject personality into their RCS chats.