Google Messages is officially rolling out custom chat themes and backgrounds on Android, letting users personalize individual conversations after several weeks of beta testing. The feature lets you tailor colors and wallpapers so that, as Google describes it, every conversation can feel uniquely yours.
The new personalization option requires RCS messaging to work. Whether you prefer a favorite family photo behind a group chat or a minimal color palette for a work contact, the styling is left entirely to the user.
How Chat Themes Work
Chat themes allow you to change two elements: the bubble accent color and the chat wallpaper. Google provides a gallery of curated backgrounds sorted into categories such as Animals, Landscapes, and Space. You can also upload your own image from your gallery.
Once you make a selection, the message bubbles automatically adjust to complement the new color scheme. If you want more control, a carousel at the top of the screen lets you manually tweak the color palette at any time.
Importantly, chat themes are private to you. Any styling you apply is visible only on your device, meaning the recipient never sees the changes you make to a conversation. This lets you customize freely without altering the other person’s view.
How to Set a Custom Theme
To apply a theme, open Google Messages and select the chat you want to style. Tap the recipient or group name in the top bar, or tap the three-dot More icon in the top right corner, then choose Chat theme.
From there, pick a color preset from the palette. Under Wallpapers, tap Choose a photo to upload an image from your gallery, or browse the preset categories. After selecting a wallpaper, tap Next to reach the preview screen. When you are satisfied with the result, tap Apply. The Chat theme menu also includes a Reset to default option if you want to revert your changes.
Availability on Android
Despite the official announcement, the feature is not yet widely available across the beta or stable channels. Users should watch for a red dot in the three-dot menu, which will indicate when custom chat themes have arrived on their device.
Source
Image: 9to5google.com
