{"id":3924,"date":"2026-11-10T09:37:03","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T08:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mag.certideal.com\/?p=3924"},"modified":"2026-11-10T09:37:03","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T08:37:03","slug":"google-messages-tests-new-home-screen-pinned-chats-bottom-search","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mag.certideal.com\/en\/google-messages-tests-new-home-screen-pinned-chats-bottom-search\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Messages: how the home screen experiment changes the way you browse chats"},"content":{"rendered":"

Finding a familiar face and checking its latest message are different tasks. The home screen being tested in Google Messages<\/strong> puts more emphasis on the first: pinned contact photos stand out, while that area no longer shows a message preview. Reported by 9to5Google, the experiment is limited to some beta users, rather than an interface everyone can already use.<\/p>\n

Why two phones may show different layouts<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The three changes<\/strong> are not necessarily enabled together. Some beta users see the entire redesign, while its individual elements also appear to be rolling out separately. Their presence in a test version therefore does not mean they are available to all participants or that a wider rollout has been announced.<\/p>\n

More visible shortcuts, less conversation context<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Currently, pinned conversations appear at the top of the message list. In the interface being tested, large contact photos sit above the list<\/strong>, in the area that also houses the app logo, search and the account menu. Other conversations are pushed further down the page.<\/p>\n

The trade-off will depend on individual habits. Someone who uses pins as shortcuts to frequent contacts may appreciate the large photos. Someone who checks previews before deciding which conversation to open will lose useful information from the home screen.<\/p>\n

Search and new chats within easier reach<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Google is also testing a new position for search<\/strong>. It becomes a floating action button centered at the bottom of the screen, next to the control for starting a conversation. The shape of the two buttons varies depending on the position in the list.<\/p>\n

When the user scrolls down the page, search appears in an elongated button labeled \u201cSearch\u201d, while the other control becomes smaller. In the other layout, search takes the form of a circular magnifying-glass button, and \u201cStart chat\u201d occupies the elongated button. The two labels are not permanently displayed side by side.<\/p>\n

A new position for Gemini<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Gemini<\/strong> shortcut leaves its floating action button and appears in the top-right corner, near the profile picture. Its new position resembles the one used for Gemini in Workspace apps on desktop and mobile.<\/p>\n

This move visually separates Gemini from the two actions at the bottom of the home screen. It accompanies the new search layout, but does not by itself indicate a change to the assistant\u2019s features. Nor is there any indication that this position is final.<\/p>\n

FAQ<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Is the new home screen available to everyone?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

No. It is being tested in the beta channel and has not yet been widely rolled out, even to testers.<\/p>\n

Do pinned avatars show the latest messages?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

No. The large photos provide access to pinned conversations, but do not display a preview of the latest message in this area.<\/p>\n

What happens to search?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It moves to the bottom of the screen, into a floating button whose shape changes depending on whether the user scrolls through the list.<\/p>\n

Where is Gemini in this interface?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Its shortcut appears in the top-right corner, next to the profile picture, rather than in a floating button.<\/p>\n

Source: 9to5Google<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Google Messages is reorganizing its beta home screen with pinned avatars at the top, search at the bottom and Gemini near the profile. The test remains limited.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3927,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mag.certideal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mag.certideal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mag.certideal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mag.certideal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mag.certideal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3924"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mag.certideal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3924\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3959,"href":"https:\/\/mag.certideal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3924\/revisions\/3959"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mag.certideal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mag.certideal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mag.certideal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mag.certideal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}