Yes, you can change the background in Google Messages, but the feature depends on your phone's operating system

Google Messages (the default texting app on many Android phones) does not have a built-in background customization feature inside the app itself. However, you can change how conversations look by adjusting your phone's system-wide dark mode or light mode settings, which affects Google Messages along with other apps. On some Android devices, you may also see limited theme options within the app settings, but these vary by manufacturer and Android version.

If you are looking for more dramatic background changes — custom images, colors, or per-conversation themes — those options are not available in Google Messages. Third-party texting apps like Samsung Messages (on Samsung phones) or other alternatives do offer per-conversation backgrounds, but switching apps means leaving Google Messages behind.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Messages does not have a built-in per-conversation background feature like some other texting apps do.
  • You can change the overall appearance of Google Messages by toggling your phone's dark mode or light mode in system settings.
  • Some Android phones (particularly Samsung) include their own texting app with more customization options, including conversation backgrounds.
  • If background customization is important to you, you may need to switch to a different texting app that offers that feature.

How to adjust the appearance of Google Messages using system settings

The easiest way to change how Google Messages looks is through your phone's display settings. Open Settings on your Android phone, then look for Display or Display and Brightness. From there, toggle Dark mode on or off depending on your preference. This changes the background of Google Messages from white (light mode) to dark gray or black (dark mode) across the entire conversation list and message threads.

The exact path varies slightly by phone manufacturer. On a Google Pixel, go to Settings > Display > Dark theme. On a Samsung phone, it is Settings > Display > Dark mode. Once you enable dark mode, Google Messages will automatically switch to a dark background, and the text will become lighter for readability.

This system-level change affects all apps on your phone, not just Google Messages, so consider whether you want dark mode everywhere before enabling it. You can also set dark mode to turn on automatically at sunset and off at sunrise by selecting Schedule in the same menu.

Why Google Messages lacks per-conversation backgrounds

Google Messages is designed to be straightforward and fast. Adding per-conversation background images or custom colors would require more storage, processing power, and settings menus. Google has chosen to keep the app lightweight and focused on core messaging features like RCS (Rich Communication Services), which enables read receipts, typing indicators, and higher-quality image sharing.

Other texting apps, particularly Samsung Messages on Samsung devices, prioritize customization and include features like conversation backgrounds, custom notification sounds per contact, and bubble styles. These features make the app larger and more complex, which is a trade-off Google has decided not to make with Google Messages.

Alternative texting apps with background customization

If you want a texting app with per-conversation backgrounds, you have several options. Samsung Messages (available on Samsung phones) lets you set a different background image or color for each conversation. Textra is a third-party app available on Google Play that offers extensive customization, including per-conversation backgrounds, custom notification sounds, and bubble themes. Chomp SMS is another option with similar features.

Keep in mind that switching away from Google Messages means you lose integration with Google's ecosystem and may lose access to RCS features depending on your carrier and the app you choose. You will also need to set your new app as the default texting app in your phone's settings. To do this, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps (or similar, depending on your phone) and select your new texting app as the SMS process.

What happens to your messages if you switch apps

Your existing text messages in Google Messages will remain on your phone and in your Google account backup. When you switch to a different texting app and set it as default, new incoming messages will appear in the new app. However, your old conversation history in Google Messages will not automatically transfer to the new app — you will see both apps on your phone with separate message histories.

Some third-party apps include an import feature that can pull your message history from Google Messages. Check the settings of your new app to see if this option is available. If you ever want to go back to Google Messages, your old messages will still be there, though you may need to restore from a backup if you have not used Google Messages in a while.

Checking if your phone has built-in texting app alternatives

Some Android phones come with their own texting app pre-installed alongside Google Messages. Samsung phones include Samsung Messages, which has background customization built in. If you own a Samsung device and want conversation backgrounds without downloading a third-party app, open Samsung Messages and look in Settings > Themes or Conversation settings to see what options are available.

To check which texting apps are on your phone, open your app drawer and search for "messages" or "SMS". You may see multiple options. Open each one to see what features it offers. If you find one you prefer, you can set it as your default by going to Settings > Apps > Default apps > SMS process and selecting it from the list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a background image for just one conversation in Google Messages?

No. Google Messages does not support per-conversation backgrounds or themes. You can only change the overall appearance of the app using your phone's dark mode setting, which affects all conversations at once.

Will switching to a different texting app delete my messages in Google Messages?

No. Your messages stay in Google Messages even after you switch to a different app. The new app becomes your default for incoming texts, but your old conversation history remains in Google Messages unless you manually delete it.

Does dark mode in Google Messages use less battery?

On phones with OLED screens (like Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy), dark mode can reduce battery drain because black pixels use less power than white ones. On phones with LCD screens, dark mode makes little difference to battery life.

Can I use Google Messages and another texting app at the same time?

Yes, you can have multiple texting apps installed. However, only one can be set as your default SMS app, which means only that app will receive new text messages. The others will still be on your phone but will not receive new incoming texts.

What is RCS and will I lose it if I switch apps?

RCS (Rich Communication Services) adds features like read receipts, typing indicators, and better image quality to text messages. Whether you keep RCS when switching apps depends on the new app and your carrier. Google Messages and Samsung Messages both support RCS, but some third-party apps do not.