Google has been working on improving the messaging experience on Android—from working with carriers to upgrade their networks to RCS to building new features. You can send and receive text messages, photos, voice messages, and videos using Android Messages. If you don’t have Android Messages, you can get it from Google Play. Google said, "we're creating a messaging experience that's available on multiple devices, lets you share whatever you want to share, and makes it easy to take action on your messages with Google AI.” 

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In case you want to download this Android Messages, here's how you can do it. 

Make Android Messages your default messaging app

Notably, some of the features of this app would work on Android 6.0. If your device has more than one messaging app, you can make Android Messages your default messaging app.

Open the Android Messages app Android Messages.

When prompted to change your default messaging app, follow the onscreen instructions. 

Let's understand how Android Messages work. 

Start a conversation with one of your contacts

If a contact is already in your phone, it will show as a contact in your Android Messages app. You can also add a new contact from within the app itself.

  • Open the Android Messages app Android Messages.
  • Tap Start chat. 
  • Enter the name, phone number, or email of the person you’re sending a message to.

Type your message and tap

  • Add a new number in your conversation list as a contact
  • Open the Android Messages app Android Messages.
  • Select an existing conversation with someone not in your contacts. 
  • Tap More and then Add contact. 

Add a new contact from a group conversation

  • Open the Android Messages app Android Messages.
  • Select a group conversation with the number you want to add as a contact.
  • Tap More and then People & options.
  • Tap the number you want to add and then Add contact. 

Change notification settings for specific people

  • Open the Android Messages app Android Messages.
  • Open a conversation with the person you want to change notifications for.
  • Tap More and then People & options and then Notifications.

You can turn notifications on or off completely for this person, or edit advanced settings for how notifications display on your device.

Block a contact

When you block someone, you’ll no longer receive any calls or messages from them.

  • Open the Android Messages app Android Messages.
  • Open a conversation with the person you want to block.
  • Tap More and then People & options and then Block [phone number].
  • Optional: You can check the Also report spam box.