You can choose to get messages that are sent to you from messaging apps that you don't have. You get these messages as notifications. You can reply from the notifications.
Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 8.0 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
Turn on app preview messages
- Open your phone’s Settings app.
- Tap Google
Mobile data & messaging
App preview messages.
- Turn on App preview messages.
- Enter your phone number. Tap Verify.
- You'll get a text message with a PIN. If needed, enter that PIN.
Turn off app preview messages
- Open your phone’s Settings app.
- Tap Google.
- To turn off app preview messages:
- Turn off all apps: Tap Mobile data & messaging
App preview messages.
- Turn off one app: Tap Settings for Google apps
Connected apps
the app
Disconnect.
- Turn off all apps: Tap Mobile data & messaging
Reply to app preview messages
- Tap the notification. If needed, tap Reply.
- Enter your reply. Tap Send
.
To get the app, tap Install.
Block app preview messages
- Tap the notification
Block.
- Tap Block this person, Block & report as spam, or Turn off App preview messages for [app].
Keep or delete app preview messages
Keep messages
- Install the app that sent a message.
- The chats that you’ve had in the past 24 hours move to that app.
- Those messages are no longer app preview messages.
- Manage the messages in your new app.
Tip: By default, app preview messages stay on your phone for one year.
Delete all messages
- Open your phone’s Settings app.
- Tap Google
Mobile data & messaging
App preview messages
Manage Storage.
- Tap Delete all App preview messages.
Automatically remove messages after 7 days
- Open your phone’s Settings app.
- Tap Google
Mobile data & messaging
App preview messages
Manage Storage.
- Turn on Remove messages after 7 days.