Original topic:

Samsung UI Theme for Google Messages?

(Topic created: Thursday)
260 Views
Santaneria
Halo
Options
Galaxy S Phones
Anyone know if there's a way for samsung and Google developers to create a UI theme for Google messages? 

The theme on my S23 Ultra is frustrating with the color scheme and chat customization options, as well as with their choice of font when looking for a chat. 

If chats had the name in bold with the first line of the conversation in standard font, that would already help so much differentiating between them rather than a bunch of lines of standard font. Currently im using emoji and profile pictures to differentiate them because reading g them can be difficult. I have an astigmatism so unless I have my glasses on all the time, its not always easy to focus. I dont always have my glasses on because I dont always need them, but after a long day of using them I take them off,usually when im in bed. 

The chat themes are alsoa bit annoying with their lack of true black backgrounds and googles emojis showing up different than my samsung keyboard. 

I will say, I get what theyre trying to do. Messaging others that also use Google messages merges pretty well with encrypted chats and themes being shared, but I dont see many other upsides to that. 

Still want samsung to bring back their app or to make a theme to go over google messages because im not going to stop complaining about this until its addressed. I dont want a walled garden here too. 
10 Replies
Mujibar
Honored Contributor
Options
Galaxy S Phones
Since Google Messages is a Google app, they will want to keep its look consistent with the rest of their app suite. As far as a collaboration with Samsung to make a version similarly themed to the rest of One UI, I don't really see that happening. Not as long as Samsung Messages exists.
Santaneria
Halo
Options
Galaxy S Phones
I get that, but thats a compromise they can make for forcing it onto samsung to ditch their messages app. Google could have let samsung use their servers to keep their app but they were pushed to use Googles app.
0 Likes
Mujibar
Honored Contributor
Options
Galaxy S Phones
Samsung wasn't forced to ditch their app. It still exists and functions for regular SMS/MMS messages, like numerous other text message apps. The server issue lies with the carriers. They don't want to maintain servers for RCS messaging. The only servers capable of handling RCS message traffic belong to Google. Hence, the need to use Google Messages if you want RCS messaging features.
Santaneria
Halo
Options
Galaxy S Phones
Mm makes sense, I had RCS on my S21 with Verizon when I first got it then it went away. Do you think they could have incorporated googles servers into samsung messages app to use both the SMS/MMS and RCS servers?

I guess they weren't forced to, but there was a lot of influence to shift their users onto Google.
0 Likes
Options
Galaxy S Phones
There is a slight variation in the Samsung version of Google Messages as standard Google Messages doesn't have the "reachability" design that Samsung does, where swiping down moves the top conversation to the middle of the screen.
There is also the "text on Galaxy devices" option in the advanced settings.

1764877748648.jpg
Santaneria
Halo
Options
Galaxy S Phones
So there's some samsung influence on the app to begin with. I have the same version. If they allow samsung to further that reach with allowing more customization for users and samsung to design it in their color pallets with font layouts
0 Likes
meself
Honored Contributor
Options
Galaxy S Phones
I don't see Google changing course
Santaneria
Halo
Options
Galaxy S Phones
Thats the most frustrating part.

If theu wont open it up for samaung to apply a theme over it, then I think they should get neater with their format/layout
0 Likes
K_87
Nebula
Options
Galaxy S Phones
Hi, sorry, bust to clarify, it's possible to use Samsung messages instead of Google messages?
I hate google messages, it's boring and not really able to be customized, I hate it. I just literally, yesterday upgraded to the S25 (I absolutely hate it and regret upgrading).
Samsung messages isn't installed, but I can download it...Will it work, do u think?