Google Messages is finally getting the mentions feature everyone’s been asking for. If you’ve ever tried getting someone’s attention in a busy group chat, you know how frustrating it can be when your message gets buried under dozens of other texts.
According to Android Authority, the new feature works exactly like you’d expect from apps like WhatsApp or Telegram. Type the @ symbol followed by someone’s name, and they’ll get a special notification even if they’ve muted the group. Google Messages has been slowly catching up to other messaging apps, and this update addresses one of the biggest missing pieces.
Image credit – AssembleDebug/Android Authority
The mentions system is straightforward. When you type @ in a group chat, Google Messages will show you a list of everyone in the conversation. Pick someone from the list, and their name gets inserted into your message as a bolded, clickable tag. Other people in the chat can tap on the mention to see that person’s profile, with quick shortcuts to call or DM them directly.
The real benefit comes from the notification system. When someone mentions you, you’ll see a visible @ symbol next to that chat in your main conversation list. This makes it nearly impossible to miss when someone’s trying to get your attention, even in those chaotic group threads with hundreds of unread messages.
Google hasn’t announced an official release date yet. However, the feature is already showing up in recent beta versions of the app. Code strings found in Google Messages suggest the rollout is getting close. Based on how these things usually go, we’re probably looking at a wider release within the next few weeks. The feature will work with both RCS and standard SMS group chats, though you’ll need the latest version of the app to use it.
