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Google Messages may soon fix a hair-pulling frustration

Google Messages may soon fix a nuisance.

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By Anam Hamid

Published: Feb 17, 2026, 2:38 AM

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Google Messages is the default messaging app on many Android phones . | Image by PhoneArena

Copying specific parts of a text in Google Messages is currently an ordeal. Because the app lacks a native way to select text, users must copy entire messages and manually delete the excess. Google appears ready to simplify the process, making text extraction a breeze.

There's a better way

While combing through the beta version of Google Messages, Android Authority spotted a significant change to the copy function.

At the moment, when you long-press a message in Google Messages, the app only lets you copy the entire message. While that may be what you are looking for sometimes, oftentimes, people are only interested in specific parts of a message, such as a phone number, address, link, or OTP.

The outlet was able to activate a new version of the copy feature, which allows for selective text highlighting, much like copying text from a web browser. To copy a full message, the feature will work as usual.

The feature is seemingly a work-in-progress and will likely be rolled out in the coming months.

Improving usability

Google is always working to make its messaging app more user-friendly. Just in January, the app received a new context menu, which is one-handed friendly. After the update, frequently used actions such as Copy, Delete, Reply, and Forward appear below the text when you long-press it, instead of being hidden in a hamburger menu at the top.

The new copy feature will make things easier by eliminating the need to manually extract the part of the message you are interested in.

Were you waiting for this feature?

Making the app better one change at a time

While changes like these might seem trivial, over time, they make the experience of using Google Messages that much better. With Google Messages being the default messaging app on almost all Android phones, the onus is on Google to provide a seamless experience for its massive user base.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.

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