Google Messages has been steadily improving with new features, making it a strong competitor to messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram since Google introduced RCS to Android phones. Recently, Google has been rolling out a series of updates to enhance user experience, with a potential new mentions feature for group chats on the horizon.
Have you ever found yourself in a group chat wanting to direct a message to a specific person? Mentioning someone in a chat is a common feature on social media platforms that allows users to tag individuals, sending them a notification and highlighting their name for easy identification. This feature is now being considered for integration into Google Messages, offering users a more interactive and personalized chatting experience.
While the mentions feature has not been officially launched yet, Android Authority discovered hints of its development in a recent deep dive into the Google Messages APK. The latest beta version (20250511) revealed some functionality related to mentions, indicating that Google is actively working on implementing this feature.
Similar to mentions on other platforms, users will be able to tag individuals by typing the “@” symbol in the text field, selecting the person they want to mention, and having their name automatically inserted into the message. Once sent, the mentioned person’s name will be highlighted, allowing other users to view their profile details and initiate private conversations or calls with them.
Despite the progress made, the mentions feature is still undergoing refinement, as users who are mentioned do not currently receive notifications about being tagged. Google is continuing to fine-tune this feature to ensure a seamless user experience before its official release.
Several questions remain unanswered, such as whether this feature will be exclusive to Pixel devices or if it will only be available for users with RCS-enabled chats. Given the evolving nature of RCS implementation, it remains uncertain how widespread the mentions feature will be once launched. Only time will reveal the extent of its accessibility and functionality across different devices and chat settings.