Read receipts in Google Messages look different, but nobody knows why

{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": "1", "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.androidpolice.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position":"2", "name": "Utilities", "item": "https://www.androidpolice.com/utilities/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position":"3", "name": "Read receipts in Google Messages look different, but nobody knows why", "item": "https://www.androidpolice.com/google-messages-beta-read-receipts-redesign/" } ] } Read receipts in Google Messages look different, but nobody knows why By Chethan Rao Published Apr 28, 2026, 9:42 AM EDT Chethan is a reporter at Android Police, focusing on the news coverage for the site. He has covered tech for over a decade for multiple publications, including Times Internet, Guiding Tech, Android Headlines, and several others. His love for Android dates back to the Samsung/Google Nexus S, and his first Android phone was the HTC Desire HD in 2010. Away from work, he's on the lookout for live cricket streams or NBA highlights. He also enjoys the occasional hour or two of console/mobile gaming whenever time permits. Sign in to your Android Police account Add Us On follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap Like most messaging apps, Google Messages uses indicators for each stage of the message delivery system, split into Sending, Sent, Delivered, and Read. In August 2024, we started seeing hints of a major redesign to read receipts, incorporating slightly different ring and checkmark indicators directly into the message bubble rather than below. We've since seen the redesign roll out more broadly to users, with the most recent rollout occurring earlier this year. Related How to know if someone read your text messages on Android Quickly learn the read receipt indicators Posts 1 By Faith Leroux Now, reporting by 9to5Google shines light on what appears to be a regression of this particular design update. In some beta versions of Google Messages, the read receipts have begun appearing directly below the message bubble, and in their older avatar. The publication notes seeing this on one device featuring a beta of the messaging app. A quick check on my Pixel device also shows this regression in Google Messages (version 20260423_00 beta), with the read receipts sitting between the timestamp and the encryption icon. Notably, the two checkmarks are placed separately, rather than inside a circle. Could this simply be a bug? window.arrayOfGalleries["article-gallery-1-1559334887"] = '"<div class=\"w-gallery-carousel\"><section id=\"main-carousel-1-1559334887\" class=\"splide splide-gallery\" data-gallery-expanded-id=\"main-expanable-carousel-1-1559334887\" data-gallery-expanded-thumbnail-id=\"expanded-gallery-thumbnails-1-1559334887\"><button class=\"expand icon i-expand\" type=\"button\"><\/button><div class=\"splide__track\"><ul class=\"splide__list\" style=\"--gallery-aspect-sm: 2.4 \/ 1; --gallery-aspect-md: 2.4 \/ 1; --gallery-aspect-lg: 2.4 \/ 1;\" ><li class=\"splide__slide gallery-main-img\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\"…

This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at Android Police.