I just got Google's spammy Google Messages texts. Here's how to turn them off

Earlier this month, Google added something to Google Messages that’s … less than ideal. Using the app’s business chat feature, Google has started sending texts to Google Messages users about new Google Messages features.

There are a couple of ways to look at this. On the one hand, if you don’t regularly follow news/updates about Messages, this could be a fine way to stay informed about what’s new. However, if you’re like me, you might see this as nothing but annoying spam.

The good news? You can permanently remove these texts from Google if you don’t want them.

What do these Google Messages texts look like?

Google’s text messages in Google Messages are pretty easy to spot. If you have them, you’ll see a conversation in your inbox from “Google Messages” with a checkmark next to it, and the Messages app icon as the profile picture.

Open the conversation, and you’ll see messages from Google about various app features; I received a text from Google on September 18 reminding me that photos/videos sent via RCS are higher quality than standard SMS messages.

The conversation doesn’t look any different from a “normal” text thread, though you can’t type your own messages to send back to Google. Instead, you can only use the pre-made replies, such as “Tell me more.”

How to unsubscribe from Google Messages texts

Spotting these Google Messages texts is pretty easy, but what about unsubscribing? Thankfully, that’s quite simple, too.

Before Google starts texting you, you should see a pop-up at the top of your Messages app that says, “Join the official chat for all future features and media updates.” If you tap No thanks on this pop-up, you’ll stop the Google Messages texts before Google even has a chance to send them to you.

If for some reason you don’t get this pop-up, or if you accidentally tap Continue, you can still get out of the texts. Here’s how:

1. Open the Google Messages conversation.
2. Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner.
3. Tap Unsubscribe.
4. Select your reason for unsubscribing.
5. Tap Unsubscribe.

You’ll get a confirmation message from Google confirming your unsubscription, along with instructions on how to resubscribe if you ever want to.

A heads up that unsubscribing from Google’s texts doesn’t automatically remove the conversation from your Messages inbox. To wipe all evidence of these texts, tap the three dots once more, tap Trash, and tap Move to trash.

Are these texts the most egregious thing Google has ever done? Of course not. But they’re not great, either. I get enough text spam, so I certainly don’t need another thread from Google making my Messages inbox more hectic than it already is.