Follow ZDNET: Add us as a favorite resource on Google.
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Stop sending the wrong answer to the wrong recipient.
- The Google Messages theme talks to be different.
- This feature is free to use and comes from Android.
Just this morning, I posted the wrong reply to what I thought was a fair discussion thread. It didn’t get me in trouble, but it did cause the receptionist to raise her eyebrows. I quickly explained, found the right recipient, and sent a reply.
I can’t tell you how many times this problem has happened to me over the years. Sometimes it happens when I’m groggy in the morning, and my brain isn’t firing on all cylinders, and sometimes it happens when my brain is firing on every cylinder it’s ever had, and my fingers struggle to keep up.
Also: 6 Android launchers that are better than your default home screen (and most are free)
Either way, it happens.
Fortunately, I found a way to alleviate this problem. The solution came in the form of Google Messages themes.
Also: This hidden Pixel camera setting makes my photos absolutely brilliant – here’s how
No matter how I’m classified or positioned, it’s much easier to see a bright theme than a name or phone number. By clearly separating one conversation from another, I don’t have to worry about embarrassing myself or sending sensitive information to the wrong person (something I’ve almost done before).
Trust me when I say, you do not i want to do that. In fact, it should never share sensitive information through chat.
Thematic conversations also give them a little personality. Theme the conversation to best suit the recipient’s vibe, and it might make you smile every time you open a conversation thread, or just put you in the right mood for communication. If you’ve spent time tweaking your Android UI, even adding a killer home screen launcher like Octopi, you don’t want boring chat themes.
Also: How to clear your Android phone’s cache – a 30-second process every user should be doing
Are you interested? Let me show you how to integrate your conversations into Google Messages. I will show with my Pixel 9 Pro which is still good.
The topic is discussion
Adding a theme to a chat is a hidden feature, but it’s not hard to access.
To have a chat theme, you must open Google Messages first.
Show more
Tap the chat’s profile picture to theme it, then tap the info icon (small letter ui in a circle).
Show more
From here, you can also open the phone app to call the contact.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Tap “Conversation theme” under the images section.
Show more
There are other options here.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
On the “Chat theme” page, you can add a background image (from pre-selected options or your camera) and choose a color scheme for the chat.
Also: This silent Android feature scans your photos for ‘sensitive content’ – how to remove it
One thing to consider: if you choose a photo from your camera roll, make sure it’s a portrait, not a landscape, as landscape photos won’t crop well and can look distant. I found that images created as mobile wallpaper work well. Also note that the pre-selected images are limited, and I will still find a way to add more.
Show more
Be sure to choose your color scheme after selecting the image.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
I would also suggest choosing a color scheme after choosing a background image; otherwise, the program may not match the image properly and will look off.
I’ve used themes in Google Messages conversations that I interact with the most. By taking this step, I avoid sending the wrong answer to the wrong person. In addition, the conversations are more aesthetically pleasing.
