Google Messages continues to refine its user interface with small but meaningful updates. In 2025 alone, the messaging app has introduced several UI changes, including tweaks to read receipts, search functionality, and contact photo options with emoji or monogram assignments.
Just last week, Google Messages subtly changed how message bubbles appear, and a WhatsApp-like message detail screen is reportedly in development. Now, the latest update focuses on the Start Chat interface, giving it a more polished and visually appealing design.
A Revamped Look for Starting New Chats
According to Android Authority, the update was discovered in the messages.android_20250304_00_RC00.phone.openbeta_dynamic build. While it isn’t live yet, its refined design suggests it could roll out soon. The new look introduces more pill-shaped elements, aligning with Google’s Material You design principles.
Currently, when starting a new chat in Google Messages, users see:
- A “Create group” button at the top
- A Gemini chat shortcut
- A list of contacts in alphabetical order
The redesigned UI replaces this with a card-based system, where contacts under the same alphabet are grouped together within a rounded pill. Each contact is separated by a thin line, making the interface cleaner and more organized.
More Consistency Across the Interface
Other elements of the Start Chat screen have also received a facelift:
- The text box for typing a contact name, phone number, or email is now housed in a pill-shaped container.
- The Gemini shortcut follows the same rounded pill design for a uniform look.
- Group chat selection is more dynamic, with selected contacts visually changing shape to match Material You’s adaptive design.
- The “Add group name” screen also adopts a pill-shaped text field, keeping the design consistent across different pages.
When Will It Roll Out?
The new Start Chat interface isn’t available to users yet, and there’s no confirmed release date. However, given the ongoing search UI revamp, it’s likely that both updates will roll out together in a future Google Messages update.
