Google Messages introduces a Trash folder for your less important conversations to linger in.

      Deleted the wrong chat? Google Messages now includes a Trash folder

      Google Messages is introducing a new feature that is both small and significant, designed to assist with cleanups and unintentional deletions. The app now features a dedicated trash folder that allows users to recover conversations they have recently deleted.

      Why this is a useful new option

      The company's official support documentation has unveiled the new Trash folder, which permits users to retrieve deleted conversations within a 30-day period. This addition provides a safeguard to minimize accidental message loss. However, once this month-long timeframe expires, the conversation will be permanently removed.

      Despite this, the feature remains quite beneficial. Instead of an erased conversation disappearing immediately, it first moves to the Trash, similar to the Bin folder in Google Drive. Users can then choose to restore individual chats, recover all deleted chats, or permanently delete specific conversations. Google states that each trashed conversation will display a countdown, indicating the days remaining before it is permanently deleted.

      Multiple methods to send chats to Trash

      Google designed this feature for easy access. Users can transfer conversations to Trash either by setting up a swipe action or by pressing and holding one or more chats and tapping the Trash icon. To activate the swipe shortcut, users need to go into Messages settings, select Swipe actions, and designate Trash for either left or right swipes.

      There is, however, a small limitation.

      If a new message arrives in a conversation that is in Trash, that incoming message may show up as a new conversation in your inbox. Therefore, Trash is not strictly a holding area for chat threads you want to avoid.