- The @mention feature is now in testing on Google Messages
- Users see it in Google Messages beta
- It is one of several recent updates to the app
Over time, Google Messages has evolved from a bare-bones SMS client into a much more modern messaging app, and the latest feature to be added is user mentions – so you can finally @ someone specifically in your chats.
As spotted by 9to5Mac, the feature now appears to be in testing, according to reports on Reddit. However, it doesn’t seem to be live for everyone yet, so you may have to wait patiently for Google to enable user reviews on your phone.
The upgrade has previously been seen tucked away in the Google Messages code, first in March and then again in May. However, this is the first time we’ve actually seen it go live for the general public, although it appears to be a limited test for now – Google hasn’t actually said anything official about it yet.
To see if the feature has made its way to Google Messages on your device, try typing an “@” in one of your group chats – and if your phone has the update, you’ll see a list of contacts you can choose from and name.
This is how it works
@mention in Google Messages! from r/GoogleMessages
The first time you see this in Google Messages, you’ll see a message explaining how it works: The @mention feature can be used to get the attention of a specific person and will trigger a notification even if chat notifications have been turned off.
For now, the functionality appears to be limited to those users running the Google Messages for Android beta. You may be able to join the beta from the Play Store app: Tap your profile picture (top right), then Manage apps and devices > Installed > Google Messages and pressure Participate under Join the beta heading.
According to people who have already seen this, the name that initially comes up as a mention will match the name stored in your contacts. You can then edit it if you need to – by removing a surname, for example.
Although the feature is only being tested in beta for now, it shouldn’t be too long before everyone gets it. In recent months, Google Messages has also added features for deleting messages and custom icons for group chats.
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