Google Messages Beta Enables Selective Text Copy

Google is preparing to introduce a long-requested feature in its Messages app that allows users to select and copy specific portions of text from incoming messages, addressing a common frustration for Android device owners. The update, discovered in a recent beta version of the app, aims to streamline tasks like extracting phone numbers, addresses, or one-time passwords without copying entire conversations.

Currently, long-pressing a message in Google Messages prompts a menu with options to reply, forward, or copy the full text. This forces users to paste the complete message into another app and manually edit out unwanted parts, or rely on cumbersome workarounds such as selecting text from the app's overview screen on certain Pixel devices. The new functionality, identified in beta build messages.android_20260212_01_RC00.phone.openbeta_dynamic, builds on a redesigned context menu introduced earlier this year. That menu, which displays actions like copy and forward directly below the message for easier one-handed use, now makes the message text itself selectable.

With the update, users can long-press a message to open the menu, then drag across a specific section of text to...