Google Messages @mentions is a long-overdue feature that lets you tag specific friends in group chats to ensure they actually see your message, even if notifications are muted. The feature works by typing @ in a group chat, selecting a participant from the list, and sending—the mentioned name appears bolded and highlighted so it stands out. This closes a gap that WhatsApp and Telegram filled years ago, and Android’s default texting app is finally catching up.
Key Takeaways
- Type @ in Google Messages group chats to display a list of participants for tagging
- Mentioned users see an @ symbol on the chat in their inbox, designed to notify them even with muted notifications
- Feature rolling out in beta (version 20251103_00_RC00) starting November 2025, not yet widely available
- Tapping a mention provides quick shortcuts to profile, DM, or call options
- Part of broader Google Messages upgrades including read receipts, message editing, and Gemini Nano integration
How to use Google Messages @mentions in group chats
Using @mentions in Google Messages is straightforward. Open a group chat, type the @ symbol, and a list of participants appears—select the person you want to tag. The contact name pulls from your Google Contacts app, so whoever you mention must already be in your contacts. After selecting, you can optionally edit the displayed name—shorten @Taylor Kerns to just @Taylor, for example—without affecting how the mention works. Send the message and the name appears bolded or highlighted, making it impossible to miss.
Once someone is mentioned, they can tap on the name to access quick shortcuts: view their profile, send a direct message, or call them. In your inbox, chats containing mentions show an @ symbol, so you know at a glance which conversations tagged you. The feature is designed to notify mentioned users even if they have group notifications muted, solving the core problem of getting lost in chaotic conversations.
Why Google Messages @mentions matters for Android users
Group chats on Android have always been a friction point. Unlike WhatsApp or Telegram, Google Messages lacked a way to grab someone’s attention in a crowded conversation without replying directly to their message. This meant important information buried in a 50-message thread could be missed entirely, especially if someone muted the chat. @mentions solve this by creating a dedicated notification channel—the mention cuts through mute settings.
The feature arrives as part of a broader modernization of Google Messages. Over the past year, the app has gained read receipts, message editing, unsend functionality, custom group icons, invite links with QR codes, and Gemini Nano integration for image editing. Each upgrade pushes Google Messages closer to feature parity with competitors, but @mentions fills one of the most obvious gaps. For anyone managing a large group chat—family, friends, work team—this is the feature that actually changes how conversations flow.
Availability and current limitations
Google Messages @mentions is rolling out in beta starting November 2025, specifically in version 20251103_00_RC00. The feature is not universally available yet; early sightings appeared on Pixel 10 devices and in reports from Reddit users. This means you may not see it immediately, and even beta testers are experiencing inconsistent rollout.
The feature requires RCS group chat support to work, so older SMS-only conversations won’t have @mentions. Early tests also revealed a reliability issue: mentioned users did not always receive notifications as intended. Since the feature is still in beta, Google is likely polishing these rough edges before a wider rollout. Expect the stable version to arrive sometime in early 2026, though the exact timeline remains unclear.
Does Google Messages @mentions work like WhatsApp?
Yes, the core mechanic is nearly identical to WhatsApp and Telegram mentions. Type @, select a name, and that person gets a special notification even if the chat is muted. The main difference is that Google Messages is RCS-based, so it only works in group chats where all participants support RCS. WhatsApp and Telegram, being proprietary platforms, have broader device support. For Android users accustomed to those apps, @mentions in Google Messages will feel immediately familiar.
FAQ
Can you @mention someone in a one-on-one chat?
No, @mentions only work in group chats. There is no need to tag someone in a direct message—they already see everything you send. The feature is designed specifically to cut through the noise in larger conversations.
What happens if you @mention someone not in your contacts?
The mention list pulls from your Google Contacts app, so you can only tag people already saved there. If someone is in the group chat but not in your contacts, you cannot mention them until you add them.
Do @mentions work on iPhone?
No, Google Messages is Android-only. iPhone users have iMessage, which has its own mention system. If you are texting a mixed Android-iPhone group via RCS, the feature may have limited functionality depending on the recipients’ devices.
Google Messages @mentions is the feature Android group chats desperately needed. It won’t transform texting, but it solves a real problem—getting someone’s attention when they are not paying attention. The beta rollout signals that a wider release is coming soon, and once it lands on all Android devices, it will become the default way to ensure important messages get seen in chaotic group conversations.
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: Android Central
