Google Messages Adds 30-Day Trash for Deleted Chats

Google has rolled out a new Trash folder feature in its Messages app for Android devices, providing users with a 30-day window to recover accidentally deleted conversations. The update, which began wide distribution this week following an announcement last month, addresses a long-standing limitation where deletions were permanent and irreversible.

The feature acts as a safety net, moving deleted chats to a dedicated Trash folder instead of erasing them immediately. This allows individuals to retrieve important personal or professional messages without permanent loss. Google designed the system to enhance user control and reduce frustration from accidental actions, similar to trash functions in services like Gmail and Google Drive.

To access the Trash folder, users tap their profile picture in the top-right corner of the app, where the option appears below the Archived section. Inside, conversations are listed with details such as the number of messages each contains, making it easier to identify and manage them. Users can restore individual or multiple threads with a single tap, returning the full history to the main inbox. Alternatively, they can permanently delete items at any...