No matter what sort of Android telephone you carry or the way you often use it, one factor is a near-universal fixed:You’re gonna spend a ton of time sending and studying messages.The messages could also be from purchasers, colleagues, or your cousin Crissy from Cleveland (rattling it, Crissy!). But no matter who sends ’em or what they’re about, they’re all popping up in your telephone and cluttering your weary brainspace.My fellow Android adorer, I’m right here to let you know there’s a greater method.Google’s Android Messages app has gotten surprisingly good over time. That’s no large secret. If you are solely counting on what you see on the floor inside Android Messages, although, you are lacking out on a few of its strongest and underappreciated efficiency-enhancing choices.Today, we’ll discover the Android Messages app’s simplest out-of-sight superpowers. They might not be capable to minimize down on the variety of messages you ship and obtain in your telephone (DAMN IT, CRISSY!), however they are going to enable you to spend much less time fussing with ’em. And they may simply assist you have got a extra nice expertise, too. Let’s dive in, we could?(If you are utilizing a telephone the place the Android Messages app wasn’t preinstalled or set because the default, by the best way, you possibly can obtain it from the Play Store and provides it a whirl. Especially when you’re coming from the world of Samsung’s wildly pointless self-made Messages different, you may be pleasantly stunned by what you discover.) Android Messages tips for studying and receiving messages1. Custom notifications for vital peopleWe’ll begin with what may be my favourite little-known trick for Google’s Android Messages app: With a pair fast changes, you possibly can flip any of your contacts’ faces right into a customized notification icon. That icon will then present up on the prime of your telephone each time that individual messages you for extra-easy visibility and entry.See? JRThe solely catch is that your telephone must be operating 2020’s Android 11 working system or greater for the function to be out there. (And truthfully, in case your telephone is not operating Android 11 at this level, you’ve got bought larger fish to fry.)Here’s make it occur:
The subsequent time you get a message from somebody, press and maintain your finger to the notification.
That’ll pull up a display that appears somewhat somethin’ like this:
JR
Tap the “Priority” line, then faucet “Apply” to save lots of the adjustments.
And that is it: The subsequent time that individual messages you, you may see their profile image instead of the usual Messages icon in your standing bar, and the notification will present up in a particular part above another alerts.2. Easier-to-read textFile this subsequent Android Messages function below “accidental discoveries”: The subsequent time you end up squinting at one thing in a messaging thread in your telephone, attempt old style zoom gesture on the display — inserting your finger and thumb collectively after which spreading ’em slowly aside.You’d by no means comprehend it, however the Messages app helps that commonplace gesture for zooming right into a dialog. The inverse applies, too: When you are able to zoom again out and make all the pieces smaller, simply deliver your two fingers nearer collectively.And if these actions aren’t working for you, faucet the three-dot icon within the upper-right nook of the principle Messages display and choose “Settings,” then be certain that the toggle subsequent to “Pinch to zoom conversation text” is within the on place. Who knew?!3. Smarter inline mediaYou know a implausible strategy to waste time? I’ll inform ya: shifting from one app to a different simply to look at one thing somebody despatched you (like these blasted Bangles video Crissy is all the time blasting your method).Well, get this: Google’s Android Messages app can allow you to preview and even watch whole YouTube movies with out ever leaving your present dialog — and it may give you useful previews of net hyperlinks proper throughout the app, too.The key’s to ensure you’ve bought the related choices enabled:
Tap that three-dot icon within the upper-right nook of the principle Messages display.
Select “Settings,” then faucet “Automatic previews.”
Make certain the toggle subsequent to “Show all previews” is on and lively.
Now, the following time somebody sends you a video hyperlink, you may see the video begin taking part in with none sound as quickly because it exhibits up: JRAnd if you wish to really watch it, you possibly can faucet the video — not the textual content hyperlink however the precise field the place the video is taking part in — to activate the sound and play the whole factor proper then and there.With net pages, Messages will present you simply sufficient of a preview to allow you to make an informed choice about whether or not you need to faucet the hyperlink or not. JRAlmost painfully wise, would not ya say?4. Less annoying iPhone interactionsOne obnoxious aspect impact of Apple’s “no one exists outside of iOS” mentality is the best way these foolish iPhone message reactions present up on Android.You know what I’m talkin’ about, proper? Those pointless messages you get from iGoobers that say stuff like “Loved ‘Please stop texting me, Crissy'”?As of a comparatively current replace, Google’s Android Messages app is ready to intercept these absurd platform-specific reactions and switch ’em into commonplace reactions as a substitute of plain-text interruptions. All you’ve got gotta do is allow the choice:
Head again into the Messages app’s settings.
Tap “Advanced.”
Look for the road labeled “Show iPhone reactions as emoji” and ensure the toggle subsequent to it’s within the on place.
All that is left is to breathe a heavy sigh of reduction.Android Messages tips for interacting with messages5. Swift appointment schedulingWorking to plan a gathering or occasion with a fellow Homo sapien in Messages? Make your self a psychological word of this:Anytime somebody sends you a message that features a particular date and time, the Messages app will underline that textual content — like this: JRYou’d be forgiven for failing to understand, however you possibly can really faucet that underlined textual content to disclose a shortcut for opening that very same day and time in your calendar app. It’s an effective way to get a fast ‘n’ straightforward glimpse at your availability for the time you are discussing.And when you then need to create a calendar occasion, simply search for the “Create event” command that ought to seem proper beneath that exact same message. That’ll hearth up a brand new calendar occasion for you on the spot, with the day and time already stuffed in. JRDon’tcha simply love easy step-savers?6. Sanity-saving snoozingWe may write a complete guide on all of the methods snoozing could make your life simpler on Android (and I did, in actual fact, as a part of a current information over in my non-public useful resource neighborhood!) — however for our functions right here as we speak, the precise snoozing system we have to scrutinize is the one constructed proper into the Google-made Android Messages interface.Lemme inform ya: If you have not gotten within the behavior of utilizing it, you are actually lacking out. It’s an extremely efficient strategy to ensure you keep in mind to cope with a message at a particular future date and time.And you’ve got bought two alternative ways to benefit from it:
If you need to keep in mind a particular particular person message inside an Android Messages dialog, press and maintain your finger to the message in query — then search for the clock-shaped icon within the bar on the prime of the display.
If you’d relatively have your reminder present up for a complete thread with somebody as a substitute of a particular particular person message, press and maintain your finger to the thread inside the principle Messages display — then look for a similar clock-shaped icon within the prime bar there.
Either method you go, you’ll set your reminder for any future date and time you need: JRAnd irrespective of how mushy that noggin of yours could also be, you may keep in mind to revisit that message at precisely the suitable second.7. Seamless message schedulingIf you are able to hammer out a response to a message proper now however don’t desire your reply to be despatched for some time but, skip the snoozing and easily schedule your message for the long run.The Android Messages app’s scheduling system is spectacularly helpful. You can depend on it for setting reminders to be despatched to purchasers, business-related messages to be despatched out the following morning, or context-free middle-finger emojis to be despatched to your cousin in Cleveland.To faucet into its productivity-boosting powers, simply sort out your message usually — however then, as a substitute of tapping the triangle-shaped ship icon on the proper of the composing window, press and maintain your finger onto that very same button if you’re achieved.No fairly sane individual may understand it, however that’ll pull up a hidden menu for choosing exactly when your message must be despatched. JRAnd the individual on the opposite finish can have no method of even figuring out that you simply wrote the factor prematurely.Android Messages tips for locating messages8. Important contact prioritizingEver want you may maintain your most vital messaging threads on the prime of the listing for straightforward ongoing entry?Poof: Wish granted. Just maintain your finger onto the dialog in query on the principle Messages app display, then faucet the pushpin-shaped icon within the app’s prime bar.You can pin as much as three conversations that method, and so they’ll all the time seem above all different threads in that most important inbox view.9. Important message savingWhen you run right into a message you may need to reference once more, save your self the difficulty of attempting to dig it again up later and as a substitute star it on the spot to make it straightforward to seek out sooner or later.It could not be a lot simpler to do: While viewing a person message thread, press and maintain your finger onto the precise message you need to save, then faucet the star-shaped icon that seems within the bar on the prime of the display.Then, if you need to discover the message once more, faucet the three-dot icon within the upper-right nook of the principle Messages display and choose “Starred” from the menu that comes up. That’ll present you each message you’ve got starred for exceptionally straightforward resurfacing.10. Advanced message searchingStarring is classy, however typically, it is advisable to dig up an previous message that you simply did not exit of your strategy to save.The Android Messages app makes that even simpler than you would possibly understand. Tap the search bar on the prime of the app’s most important display — and along with looking out your whole historical past message for any particular string of textual content, take word:
You can faucet the image of any of your contacts after which sort in some textual content to restrict your search to messages solely from that one individual.
You can scroll horizontally alongside the bins beneath the phrase “Categories” to look particularly at photos, movies, places, or hyperlinks folks have despatched you.
And you possibly can mix any of these variables for much more highly effective discovering — on the lookout for hyperlinks you despatched to a selected shopper, as an illustration, or places an out-of-town colleague despatched to you.
JRJust be sure you keep away from telling Crissy that is attainable. As far as she’s involved, all these Bangles movies by no means reached you, and you have got no method of monitoring ’em down now.And don’t fret: Your secret’s secure with me.Get much more superior shortcut information with my free Android Shortcut Supercourse. You’ll study tons of time-saving tips to your telephone!
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