The Google Messages app has a bug, and it’s a big one. Users on Google’s Messages support forum have noted that their texts are disappearing from the app with no explanation. The thread dates back to January 2019, but people have posted complaints as recently as this month.
The reported issues include seeing glitched texts, messages from some contacts incorrectly labeled as coming from another contact, and the app crashing before losing all text messages. Google has not acknowledged or fixed the bug, so an official solution is not known. However, you can try out a few unofficial fixes we’ve listed below. Keep in mind that these solutions work for some and not for others, so we can’t guarantee they will solve the issue you’re having with the app.
Fix #1: Restart your phone
You’d be surprised how many tech-related issues can be fixed by simply restarting a device. It’s a quick and easy fix that got rid of the Google Messages bug for some users, but not all. It’s definitely worth giving it a try.
You’re probably smart enough to know how to reset your own phone, but just in case you’re new to the Android world, I’ll guide you through the process. All you have to do is unlock your phone, press and hold the power button, and tap the “Restart� option once it shows up. That’s it. Once the phone turns back on, open the Messages app and see if the problem is fixed. If it isn’t, move on to the next possible fix.
Step-by-step instructions:
- Unlock your phone.
- Press and hold the power button.
- Tap “Restart� and wait for the phone to do its thing.
- Check the Messages app to see if the problem is fixed.
Fix #2: Force stop and clear the cache/storage
This possible solution takes just a bit more work but is still super easy to do. The first step is to use the “Force stop� option, which basically kills off the Linux process for the app. You can do that by heading to Settings > Apps and notifications and then tapping the “See all apps� option. From there, find and open the Messages app and tap on “Force stop� followed by “OK.�
The next step is to clear the cache and data of the app. The former will delete all the temporary files stored by the app, while the latter will reset the app to its default state — making it act like you would download and use it for the first time. To get the job done, select the “Storage & cache� option and then tap “Clear cache� and “Clear storage.� Once that’s done, open up the Messages app and see if the problem still persists or not.
Please keep in mind that the exact path to these settings may slightly differ based on your handset and Android version.
Step-by-step instructions:
- Head to Settings > Apps and notifications.
- Tap the “See all apps� option.
- Find and open the Messages app.
- Tap on “Force stop� followed by “OK.�
- Tap “Storage & cache.�
- Tap “Clear cache.�
- Tap “Clear storage� followed by “OK.�
- Check the Messages app to see if the problem is fixed.
Fix #3: Update the Messages app
It’s possible that the version of the Messages app you have installed on your phone is to blame. If that’s the case, updating to the latest version of the app may solve the problem.
To update the app, open up the Google Play Store on your phone and tap the “My apps & gamesâ€� option in the side menu. Find the “Messagesâ€� app and tap the “Update” button next to it. If you can’t find it, the app is up to date, which means you’ll have to move to the next fix on this list.
Step-by-step instructions:
- Launch the Play Store on your phone.
- Tap the “My apps & games� option in the side menu.
- Tap the “Update” button next to the Messages app (if available).
- Check the Messages app to see if the problem is fixed.
Fix #4: Switch to a different texting app
If you can’t see your texts in the Google Messages app, switching to a different app is worth a shot. All your texts are likely still on your phone, but the Messages bug is preventing them from showing up. Opting for a new and bug-free app should bring them back.
Which app to use is up to you. You have plenty of options available, some of which you can check out in our “Best texting apps� post. Just pick one, install it, and set it as the default app once you open it. With any luck, you should have access to your texts now.
Step-by-step instructions:
- Download a texting app from the Play Store.
- Open it up and set it as the default app.
- Check to see if you have access to your texts now.
Hopefully, one of these solutions solved your Messages-related problems. If it didn’t, you don’t really have any other option but to sit tight and wait for Google to release an update that will take care of the bug.
Unfortunately, there’s no word on when that may happen. The Messages bug has been causing problems for some users for well over a year now and Google still hasn’t fixed it, so you may be in for a wait. Switching to a different texting app like already mentioned is the way to go until the bug in Google’s app is taken care of.
Did any of these fixes solve your problem? Let us know which one in the comments!