No one enjoys the constant buzz of spam and promotional texts, especially when you never signed up for them. While Google Messages has always been decent at flagging suspicious senders and allowing users to block or report them, the app just got even better at tackling the problem. A new "Unsubscribe" option is now available, making it much quicker to opt out of unwanted automated mailings without having to go through a series of steps.
Spotted by Android Authority, this update introduces an "Unsubscribe to stop receiving messages" prompt at the bottom of promotional texts sent from short codes. Tapping it brings up a menu asking why you're unsubscribing, with options like "Too many messages," "Spam," or simply "No longer interested." When you select "Spam," you will also be given the option to report the sender, which will notify Google and perhaps your carrier, and move the thread to the "Spam & blocked" section.
Once you've made your choice, Google Messages sends a standard "STOP" command. A tiny confirmation—"Unsubscribe request sent"—is displayed underneath. Changed your mind? A handy "START" button lets you resubscribe whenever you want.
This might sound like something that should've existed a long time ago, and it's surprising it took Google this long. Technically, anyone could type "STOP" themselves, but the new feature makes the process seamless, especially for less tech-savvy users.
It's worth noting that this tool works best with legitimate businesses. If the center is a shady operator, the STOP command may not be effective, so hit "Spam" and report them as well.
The feature is currently being rolled out to select regions, including the US, the UK, India, Brazil, and a few others. It's also being tested with users in the Google Messages beta and supports RCS Business Messages.
If you haven't seen the option yet, don't worry— it's on its way, and once it arrives, spam texts will finally be a lot easier to silence.