Google Messages Tweaks the Camera to Show More of Your Gallery
Google Messages refreshes its camera UI to show more gallery images—here’s what’s new in the 2026 update.
Matilda
Google Messages Tweaks the Camera to Show More of Your Gallery
Google Messages Camera Update Reveals More Photos in Gallery View If you’ve opened Google Messages on Android recently and noticed more of your recent photos visible without scrolling, you’re not imagining things. Google is rolling out a subtle—but meaningful—interface tweak to its messaging app that expands how many gallery images appear alongside the camera viewfinder. The change, now hitting devices globally in early 2026, optimizes screen real estate to show two full rows of images (a 2×3 grid), up from just one and a half rows previously. For users who frequently share photos mid-conversation, this small redesign delivers a noticeably smoother experience. Credit: Google A Smarter Layout Without Compromising Controls The updated Google Messages camera interface doesn’t overhaul functionality—it refines it. The camera viewfinder itself is now slightly shorter vertically, but cleverly extends into the system status bar area, preserving the immersive feel while freeing up critical space …