Google Messages is testing changes to its homepage that give pinned chats more space and reposition search. The updates are available in the beta channel but have not yet rolled out widely to testers.
Rather than keeping pinned chats at the top of the conversation list, the redesigned layout places large contact photos above all conversations. It uses the existing header area, which currently contains the app’s logo, search and account menu. The change pushes other chats further down the page and, as with a similar layout in iMessage, does not show conversation history or when a message was last sent.
Google is also testing a search button that shares a floating action button area with the new-chat control. While scrolling, search appears as a pill-shaped button and the other control is minimized. In the alternative state, a circular magnifying-glass icon appears beside a “Start chat” pill.
It is not clear whether Google will remove the Gemini floating action button as part of the update.
Sources: 9to5Google.