Google is preparing to introduce a much-anticipated button that will allow users to disable a bothersome text message feature in Google Messages.
The feature in question is Screen Effects, which adds animated visual effects to messages triggered by specific phrases, such as “I Love You.”
While Screen Effects initially received positive feedback upon its launch, some users have become weary of it and are seeking a way to turn it off.
Screen Effects enhance messages by animating the words, but Google did not initially provide a toggle to deactivate this feature.
However, according to a report from Android Police, Google is actively working on implementing this highly requested toggle.
Code for the new toggle has been discovered in the latest version of the Google Messages app, although the feature is not yet functional.
“Thank God,” expressed one user on X (formerly Twitter).
Another user commented, “Great move by Google. Sometimes you just want a straightforward messaging experience.”
Google introduced Screen Effects as part of a range of new features for Messages last year, celebrating 1 billion users of its encrypted RCS chats within Google Messages.
Among these new features was Photomoji, which allows users to transform photos into message reactions, and Voice Moods, enabling users to add emoji-style animations to voice notes.
Additionally, Custom Bubbles were introduced, allowing users to personalize chat bubbles with different colors and backgrounds based on the recipient.
Users can also send animated emoji and create custom chat profiles with a name and image.
