Google Messages Tests New Long-Press Menu for Easier One-Handed Use

Google Messages is testing a redesigned context menu. The update, rolling out in beta version 20251212_00_RC01, replaces the top toolbar with a floating menu that appears when you long-press on any message or image.

The new menu puts actions like Reply, Copy, Star, Delete, and Save within easy reach with one hand. For photos, the menu adds a Remix button for editing, with each action assigned its own icon. "Bouncy animation and haptic feedback," noticed by the folks over at 9to5Google, should help the interaction feel responsive and satisfying.

Previously, key functions sat in the top toolbar and overflow menus, which forced users to stretch their thumbs across the screen or use both hands. The new design keeps everything in the thumb zone at the bottom. The menu also adapts to your interactions, with text displaying different options than photos.

Google is rolling out this update through a server-side release ...