Soon, you'll be able to view more text in Google Messages.

      Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      If you’ve been frustrated by the relatively small size of the Google Messages text box, there’s good news: it can now expand beyond just four lines. Last month, Google Messages revamped its compose area—the section where you write your messages—but many users were disappointed that it could only show four lines of text at a time. This was particularly problematic when needing to share a lengthy URL that filled most of the space available.

      However, changes are underway. In the newest version of the Google Messages beta, the text box can now grow to accommodate up to 14 lines before scrolling is necessary to view the entire text. While this feature is not yet part of the stable release, it is expected to be available soon.

      Image used with permission by copyright holder

      Although this update might not seem major, it significantly enhances user experience—and is just one of many enhancements made to Google Messages in recent months. Other improvements include the capability to watch YouTube videos directly within the chat, better message backups, and more. Google has also indicated that Google Messages will benefit from enhanced RCS support, although the timeline for the full rollout of that upgrade is still unclear.

      As this feature remains in beta, the exact date for its inclusion in the stable version of Google Messages is uncertain, but we anticipate it will arrive in the coming weeks. In the meantime, watch for other enhancements. With the Material 3 update for Material You, Google Messages has also added more space around the text field and a slightly larger send button—again, these aren't groundbreaking changes, but they contribute to a better overall user experience.

      Google has consistently made improvements to Google Messages, especially following Samsung's and Verizon's discontinuation of their own messaging apps. If the updates persist at this pace, Google Messages could emerge as the top option available.

      Patrick Hearn covers smart home technologies such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more.

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      Each year, smartphone users lose millions of dollars to complex scams worldwide. The issue is so widespread that the U.S. Office of Inspector General and the Federal Trade Commission have issued guidelines on how to recognize and report such fraud.

      Monitoring calls for risk alerts

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