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To turn off Google Messages’ documented chat shortcuts, open the app, tap More options (the three-dot menu), choose Suggestions in chat, then switch off Suggested actions. Google’s help page documents this route; menu labels can vary by app version and rollout. Google has not documented a generally available in-chat games feature or an off switch for one.
Turn off Suggested actions in a chat
- Open Google Messages.
- Tap More options (the three-dot menu).
- Tap Suggestions in chat.
- Turn off Suggested actions.
These shortcuts can offer calendar invites, recent photos, Google Meet calls, location sharing, and GIF search. They are not a master switch for every kind of suggestion in the app. Google’s instructions for Suggested actions describe the feature and its setting.
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If your menu looks different
Google Messages menu labels and locations can change with app versions and staged rollouts. In newer builds, look under your profile icon, then Messages settings, for Suggestions or Suggestions and actions. These labels and routes are version-dependent; they are not a guaranteed path on every phone. If you cannot find the control, use the app’s settings search if available, or check the current Suggestions-related settings for the equivalent option.
Identify which kind of suggestion you want to remove
| What you see | What it is | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Action buttons or shortcuts in a chat | Suggested actions, such as photo, Meet, location, calendar, or GIF shortcuts | Google Messages: More options > Suggestions in chat > Suggested actions |
| Suggested text replies | Suggested replies, often called Smart Reply | Look for a separate Smart Reply control in Suggestions settings. A universal current route is not established. |
| Information or topic suggestions, such as movies or restaurants | Gemini suggestions, a feature Google documents separately from Suggested actions | Consult Google’s Gemini in Messages help; the Suggested actions switch is not established as a control for these suggestions. |
| Suggested controls in the notification shade | Android notification suggestions, outside the in-chat shortcuts | Check Android system notification settings for Messages. The available controls vary by device and software version. |
| A game in a conversation | A feature described in prospective reporting, not a confirmed generally available feature | No documented Google Messages setting to turn games off is established. |
Suggested replies may need a separate setting
If switching off Suggested actions leaves suggested reply chips in place, look for a separate Smart Reply or suggested-replies control in the app’s Suggestions settings. Users have reported separate controls, but the official help reviewed here does not establish one current menu route for every device and version. Google Messages user discussion
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Gemini suggestions and privacy
Google says Gemini suggestions in Messages are created using technology built into the device, and that conversations are not sent to Gemini or Google servers to create those suggestions. If you tap a suggestion, Google says the app asks Gemini to search the term; for signed-in users, the search appears in My Activity and only the search terms—not the conversation—are sent to Gemini. Google also says it receives the suggestion category and whether it was tapped to improve suggestions. These are Google’s descriptions of its data handling, not an independent audit. See Google’s Gemini in Messages help.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about games in Google Messages
A report published October 7, 2026 says Google may be preparing built-in games playable in conversations. That is prospective reporting, not confirmation that the feature is available to everyone, and it does not establish a setting to disable games. Android Authority’s report covers the possibility; Google’s documented Suggested actions instructions do not list games. If you mean ads or game recommendations elsewhere on your phone rather than something inside a Messages conversation, those are a different issue and need separate steps.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
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- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
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Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
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- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
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