Here's how you'll enable Enhanced Protection in Google Messages when it rolls out

Last week, Google announced a slew of anti-scam features, including a new “Enhanced Protection” mode in Google Messages. Though the feature is expected to launch “later this month,” the company seems to have already started laying the groundwork in the Messages app.

While digging through the latest beta version of the Google Messages app (v20261013), we found evidence of Google working on UI changes in preparation for the upcoming anti-scam feature. With a bit of tinkering, we enabled it on our device, too.

Right now, the “Protection & Safety” settings screen in Messages only shows a toggle to turn “Spam protection” on or off. However, when Google rolls out Enhanced Protection, this screen will look quite different. Based on the UI we managed to enable, the spam protection toggle will be replaced with three new options: Enhanced protection, Standard protection, and No protection.

Enhanced protection will turn on the new anti-scam feature with secure cloud analysis. Standard protection will likely be the equivalent of the “Spam protection” toggle available right now. And the “No protection” option will be marked “not recommended” as it disables all anti-scam protections.

Since Google has already said that enhanced protection in the Messages app will roll out later this month, it’s not surprising that the company is already laying the groundwork for the feature. While we don’t know exactly when Google plans to roll out the new feature, spotting UI changes is a promising sign that things are progressing rapidly. Hopefully, we’ll get to see the “Enhanced Protection” feature in Messages sooner rather than later.