Google Messages Is Finally Fixing the Most Annoying Part of Sharing Something to a Group

The discovery came from a Reddit post in the r/GoogleMessages community, where a user shared a screenshot of a new interface that appears when sharing content, like a link, photo, or file, to more than one contact at once.

Android Authority first reported on the find, noting the update reflects the kind of small, practical refinement Google has been making to Messages as it continues fending off competition from WhatsApp, iMessage, and Samsung’s own messaging app.

A Choice That Should Have Existed All Along

The redesigned menu gives users two clear options after selecting multiple recipients: “Send to a group,” which bundles everyone into one shared conversation, or “Send separately,” which fires off the same content as individual messages without creating a new thread. 

It’s an obvious fix that Google Messages has never offered, leaving users to either create unwanted group chats or resend messages manually. 

According to the original Reddit poster, if the selected contacts already have an existing group chat, Messages automatically shares to that thread instead of creating a duplicate, preserving conversation history. 

It’s a small but practical change that fits Google Messages’ role as the default messaging app on most Android devices, mainly due to its enhanced security features compared to rivals. 

Where the Feature Still Falls Short

The new sharing flow isn’t without limitations. Based on the Reddit user’s testing, attempting to create a group share containing both RCS and MMS contacts prompts users to remove MMS numbers, as the two protocols can’t be combined in this flow.

It’s a notable gap for a messaging app spanning carriers and devices, especially as some still lack full RCS support, the advanced messaging protocol used by iOS in addition to Google. 

The feature also appears to be a limited server-side test, as Android Authority couldn’t reproduce it, suggesting Google is still evaluating a wider rollout. 

Part of a Pattern of Small, Practical Fixes

This isn’t an isolated tweak. Android Authority recently spotted Google testing support for forwarding multiple messages and images at once. 

This suggests that the company is addressing a backlog of annoyances related to improving text and media sharing rather than making a one-off change. 

It also aligns with what users say they want from the app. In an informal Android Authority poll of more than 750 readers, text formatting topped the list at 34%, followed by disappearing messages, iOS-style check-ins, chat folders, and passcode-protected chats. 

While none of those bigger requests are addressed here, the new share menu suggests Google is still paying attention to the smaller friction points that shape how Messages feels to use every day. 

Source:  Google Messages is trying out a common-sense sharing menu change