First look: Google Messages could soon get a faster way to search within chats

Google has been working on several UI updates for the Google Messages app. While some, like the handy long-press menu, are rolling out, others are still in development. Now, we’ve spotted another quality-of-life update Google is working on that could be very useful for users.

Digging through the latest version of the Google Messages beta (v20260921), we spotted evidence that Google is working to make it easier for users to search inside message threads. With a bit of tinkering, we got it working on our test device, and here’s your first look.

Right now, you have to tap the three-dot menu icon inside a thread to get to the search option. Useful as this is, it is one step too many. With the new feature, if you scroll up a bit in a message thread, Google Messages will recognize that you’re likely trying to find something and display a floating search icon at the top of the screen. Tapping it opens the search interface as usual, allowing you to find the message or media file easily.

Google seems to have taken inspiration from a similar feature that recently started rolling out in WhatsApp. From what we’ve seen on our test device, the feature seems to work smoothly already, so we hopefully won’t have to wait long for Google to start rolling it out, at least in the app’s beta versions.

However, Google updates are infamous for rolling out slowly. When (or if) Google finally begins rolling out this new search button, it will likely be a phased rollout that could take several weeks to reach a wider audience.