The Messages app in iOS 26 has received some fantastic updates that make it more expressive, interactive, and personalized than ever before. I use Messages every day to stay in touch with friends and family, and these new features have really enhanced my conversations. From customizable backgrounds to powerful new text effects, there’s a lot to love.
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Apple has focused on making chats feel more dynamic and personal. I can now set a unique background for each of my conversations, which helps to give each chat its own distinct personality. There are also new ways to recover deleted messages and schedule messages to be sent later.
These might seem like small changes, but they add up to a significantly better messaging experience. Let me guide you through some of the advanced features I’ve been enjoying in the new Messages app.
🎨 Custom Backgrounds and Text Effects
One of the most fun new features is the ability to set custom backgrounds for my chats. To do this, I just need to open a conversation, tap the contact’s name at the top, and then tap ‘Backgrounds’. I can choose from a variety of options, including a solid color, a photo from my library, or even an image created with Image Playground.
This simple customization makes each conversation feel unique. I’ve set a picture of my dog as the background for the chat with my family, and a cool abstract design for my group chat with friends. It’s a great way to add a personal touch to my messages.
iOS 26 also introduces new Text FX. When I’m typing a message, I can highlight a word or phrase and tap the ‘A’ icon to bring up a menu of effects. I can make the text shake, ripple, or bloom. It’s a fun and expressive way to add emphasis to my words and make my messages stand out.
⏰ Scheduling and Recovering Messages
I can’t count the number of times I’ve wanted to send a message but knew it was too late at night. With iOS 26, I can now schedule messages to be sent at a later time. After I’ve written my message, I tap the plus icon and select ‘Send Later’. I can then choose a specific date and time for the message to be delivered. It’s a fantastic feature for respecting people’s time while not forgetting to send important reminders or birthday wishes.
Another incredibly useful feature is the ability to recover deleted messages. We’ve all accidentally deleted a message or an entire conversation that we didn’t mean to. Now, when I delete a message, it’s moved to a ‘Recently Deleted’ folder for 30 days. I can access this folder from the main conversation list and easily restore any messages I need to get back.
This feature has already saved me once. It provides a welcome safety net and gives me peace of mind that my important conversations are protected. You can find more productivity tips in my guide to the new Preview app.
🤝 Enhanced Group Chats and Check In
Group chats have also seen some nice improvements. There are now named typing indicators, so I can see exactly who in the group is typing a reply. It’s a small but helpful addition that makes group conversations feel more organized.
One of the most important new features is Check In. This allows me to notify a friend or family member when I’ve arrived safely at my destination. I can start a Check In from the plus menu in a conversation. When I get home, it automatically detects my arrival and sends a notification to my friend. If I’m delayed, it will ask me if I want to extend the timer. If I don’t respond, it will share my current location and route with my designated contact. It’s a powerful safety feature that gives both me and my loved ones peace of mind.
Finally, I can now create polls directly within a group chat. This is perfect for making decisions with a group, like choosing a restaurant or a movie time. It’s another great tool that makes group coordination much simpler.
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