Google Messages has introduced a new Trash folder feature aimed at preventing the accidental loss of conversations. This update provides users with a 30-day grace period to recover deleted messages, as opposed to the immediate removal previously experienced on Android devices. For users on Android Go, the retention period is shortened to 7 days to conserve storage space.
Accessible from the account menu by tapping on the profile image, the Trash folder allows users to view the number of messages in each conversation. They can choose to restore individual threads or delete all at once. Notably, if a chat in the Trash receives a new message, a new thread will appear in the main chat list, while older messages remain in the Trash.
This feature has been rolled out with the stable version 20260327_00_RC00 of the app. Additionally, Samsung Messages is set to be discontinued in July as part of the transition to Google Messages, which recently celebrated 10 billion downloads.