Google is quietly rolling out a long-awaited update to its Messages app — the ability to use @mentions in RCS group chats. The feature, currently available to select users in the Google Messages beta program, allows people to directly tag others within a group conversation, similar to WhatsApp, Telegram, and other modern messaging platforms.
According to early reports, once users type the @ symbol, Google Messages will display a list of participants from the group chat. Selecting a contact will tag them, and importantly, the tagged user will receive a notification even if the chat is muted — ensuring important messages don’t get lost in the noise.
What’s more, users can customize their display name before tagging someone, making the feature useful for groups where people may appear under different names or contact formats.
Currently Limited to Beta Users
As of now, the mentions feature appears to be rolling out in phases and only works in RCS-enabled chats, not regular SMS. Google is likely still testing performance and stability before rolling it out to the general public.
While Google hasn’t officially confirmed a release timeline, past updates suggest that once a feature hits beta testing, a broader rollout typically follows shortly after.
A Step Toward Modernizing Google Messages
The addition of mentions signals Google’s continued push to bring RCS messaging on par with other major platforms. Over the past few months, the company has been steadily introducing improvements aimed at making Messages feel more like a modern communication hub rather than a traditional SMS inbox.
With features like messaging reactions, end-to-end encryption, better group controls — and now mentions — Google is clearly positioning RCS as a competitive alternative to Meta’s messaging platforms.
If you’re part of the beta program, you may already see the prompt explaining how to use mentions — otherwise, the update should reach more devices in the coming weeks.