Google Messages puts three different controls behind a touch-and-hold gesture: hold Send to schedule a text, hold a message to add or change an emoji reaction, and hold a conversation in the list to pin it. Scheduling controls when a message leaves your phone, reactions acknowledge a message, and pins keep an entire conversation near the top of your inbox.
The details differ by feature. Scheduled messages require Android 7.0 or later and are sent when the phone reconnects if it is offline at the chosen time. SMS/MMS reactions are documented for the United States, France, Canada, and Australia, with restrictions on media messages. Pinning is a mobile action, supports up to 20 conversations, and is unavailable in India. The procedures below follow Google’s current help instructions.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What each Google Messages feature does
These tools solve separate problems rather than competing with one another. Use scheduling when the timing of a text matters, a reaction when a quick acknowledgment is enough, a pin when you need a whole conversation easy to reach, and a star when you need to save one particular message.
| Feature | What it organizes or changes | How to start | Important limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled message | Controls when a text is sent | Touch and hold Send after composing | Android 7.0 or later; the phone sends after reconnecting if it is offline at the selected time |
| Emoji reaction | Adds a lightweight response to a message | Touch and hold the message, then choose an emoji | For SMS/MMS, Google lists the United States, France, Canada, and Australia; reactions apply to text, not photos or videos received through MMS |
| Pin | Keeps an entire conversation at the top of the list | Touch and hold a conversation in the list, then tap Pin | Up to 20 conversations; pinning is unavailable in India and must be done on mobile |
| Star | Saves one individual message for later search | Touch and hold a message and choose Star | Stars do not move the conversation to the top |
Google’s overview of these controls is available in More features in Google Messages and its separate guide to starred messages and pinned conversations.
#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.
What you need before using the features
A compatible Android phone
Google Messages is an Android app distributed through Google Play, as described in Google’s getting-started guide. You do not need to buy a new phone if Google Messages is already installed and working on your device. The only explicit operating-system requirement in Google’s scheduling instructions is Android 7.0 or newer.
A working Google Messages account for reactions
Google says reactions require connecting the Google Messages account to an Android device. If the reaction picker is missing, check that the account is connected to the phone before treating the absence as a message-format or country limitation.
Mobile access for pinning
You can view pinned conversations on mobile and in Google Messages for Web, but Google’s instructions say the pin action itself can only be performed from a mobile device. Pinning is also unavailable in India.
A quick setup checklist
- Open the official Google Messages app rather than relying on a different SMS application.
- Confirm the phone is running Android 7.0 or later if scheduling is unavailable.
- For reactions, make sure the Google Messages account is connected to the Android device.
- For pinning, use the mobile conversation list; the Web interface is for viewing pinned threads, not creating the pin.
- Remember that SMS/MMS reaction support depends on both country and message type.
These checks explain most missing-command reports without changing any message content or deleting a conversation.
How to schedule a text in Google Messages
Scheduling is built into the compose screen. You choose a suggested time or enter a date and time, then confirm by sending the scheduled message.
Use a suggested time
- Open Google Messages and open the conversation where you want to send the text.
- Type the message in the compose field.
- Touch and hold the Send button. A scheduling menu appears.
- Choose one of the suggested times.
- Tap Send to create the scheduled message.
A Scheduled message notification appears in the conversation. That label refers to the notification Google documents for a conversation containing a scheduled message; it does not mean the text has already been delivered.
Choose a custom date and time
- Open the conversation, enter the text, and touch and hold Send.
- Choose the option to select a custom date and time.
- Pick a date in the calendar.
- Pick a time in the clock.
- Tap Next.
- Tap Send to save the scheduled message.
The custom-time flow is useful when none of the suggested choices matches the moment you need. The message remains associated with that conversation until it is sent, changed, sent immediately, or deleted.
Change, send now, or delete a scheduled message
- Open the conversation containing the scheduled message.
- Tap the Schedule control beside that message.
- Choose the available action: update the schedule, send the message immediately, or delete it.
Use Update when the wording should stay the same but the delivery time changes, or when you need to revise the scheduled item according to the controls shown in the conversation. Choose Send now to bypass the scheduled time. Choose Delete to cancel that scheduled message without sending it.
What happens if the phone is offline?
Google states that a scheduled message is sent after the device reconnects if the phone has no Wi‑Fi or mobile data at the appointed time. Scheduling therefore does not guarantee delivery at the exact selected minute when the device is offline. The phone must reconnect before Google Messages can send the waiting message.
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.
Scheduling checks when the option is missing
- Confirm that the phone runs Android 7.0 or later, the version threshold stated in Google’s help.
- Compose inside an actual conversation and touch and hold Send; a normal tap sends immediately.
- If the phone will be offline at the chosen time, expect the message to wait until connectivity returns.
- To manage an existing item, open the same conversation and tap the Schedule control beside it rather than composing a duplicate message.
Scheduling examples
For a simple future text, type it first and use one of the suggested times. For a deadline that does not match a suggestion, use the calendar and clock, tap Next, and then tap Send. If plans change, the scheduled item remains visible in the original conversation, so you can update its time, send it immediately, or delete it instead of sending a second copy.
The offline rule is important for time-sensitive communication. A scheduled message is queued on the phone and waits when the device lacks Wi‑Fi or mobile data. Once the phone reconnects, Google says it sends the message; the chosen time is not a guarantee that the recipient sees it at that exact minute.
How to react to a message with an emoji
An emoji reaction is attached to an existing message, so it is different from typing a new reply. You can replace your own reaction, remove it, and inspect reactions in a group conversation.
Add a reaction
- Open the conversation in Google Messages.
- Touch and hold the message you want to acknowledge.
- Select an emoji from the reaction choices.
The emoji is attached to that message. Google’s guide to expressive features describes this hold-and-select procedure.
Change or remove your reaction
- Touch and hold the message that already has your reaction.
- To change it, select a different emoji.
- To remove it, tap the highlighted reaction.
These controls affect your own reaction. They do not delete the underlying message.
See who reacted in a group chat
In a group conversation, tap the reaction cluster attached to the message. Google Messages shows which participants selected each reaction, allowing you to distinguish several people’s responses instead of treating the cluster as one anonymous indicator.
SMS/MMS availability and media limits
For SMS/MMS, Google lists reaction availability in the United States, France, Canada, and Australia. The same help page says SMS/MMS reactions apply to text, not to photos or videos received through MMS. Availability can therefore depend on both the country and whether the selected item is a text message or MMS media.
Google also says the Google Messages account must be connected to an Android device for reactions. If a reaction works on a text but not on a received photo or video, that difference matches the documented media restriction rather than indicating that the hold gesture is broken.
Display iPhone reactions as text
Google documents a setting for showing reactions from iPhone users as text instead of emoji. In the United States, for text messages sent in English, go to Message settings > Advanced and turn off Show iPhone reactions as emoji. The availability qualification matters: Google states that this option is available in the U.S. for English-language text messages, not as a universal setting for every country or message type.
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.
Reaction pitfalls
A reaction is not a replacement for a reply when you need to provide information; it simply acknowledges the selected message. Hold the exact message you want to mark, especially in a busy group chat, because the reaction cluster belongs to that message. If you are testing the feature, use a text message first: an MMS photo or video is explicitly outside the documented SMS/MMS reaction scope.
How to pin a conversation
Pinning works at the conversation level. It moves the selected thread to the top of your message history so you can find the whole exchange quickly; it does not mark one message inside that thread.
Pin from the conversation list
- Open Google Messages and go to the conversation list.
- Touch and hold the conversation you want to keep near the top.
- Tap Pin.
The conversation stays in the pinned area above unpinned conversations. Repeat the same hold gesture and choose Unpin when you no longer want it prioritized.
Pinning limits and device rules
- Google’s stated limit is up to 20 pinned conversations.
- The pin command is unavailable in India.
- You must perform the pin action on a mobile device.
- After pinning, you can view the pinned conversations on mobile and in Google Messages for Web.
If the Pin command does not appear, check the country restriction and make sure you are holding a conversation in the mobile app’s list, not trying to create the pin from Google Messages for Web.
Managing a full pin list
The 20-conversation limit applies to the set of pinned threads, not to individual messages inside them. When a conversation no longer deserves priority, hold it in the list and choose Unpin; that removes its pinned status while leaving the conversation itself intact. You can then pin another thread, provided the feature is available in your country and you are using mobile.
Pinning versus starring a message
Pinning and starring are often confused because both are organizational tools, but they operate at different levels.
| Question | Pin a conversation | Star a message |
|---|---|---|
| What is selected? | An entire conversation | One individual message |
| Where does it appear? | At the top of message history | In the Starred filter in search or More options |
| Best use | Keep an active thread easy to open | Save a specific address, instruction, confirmation, or other message |
| How is it created? | Hold the conversation in the list and tap Pin | Open the conversation, hold the message, and choose Star |
Star a specific message
- Open the conversation containing the message.
- Touch and hold the message.
- Choose Star.
To find it later, use the Starred filter in search or in More options, as described in Google’s star and pin instructions. A star is therefore the better choice when the important item is buried inside a conversation and you do not want to move the entire thread.
Choosing between a pin and a star
Ask whether you need the thread or the message. Pin a conversation when you repeatedly open that entire exchange, such as an ongoing group or family thread. Star when one detail matters, such as a confirmation or instruction that you may need to retrieve later. A pin changes list position; a star creates a searchable saved-message marker. Neither action changes the message text.
Which feature should you use?
- You need a text to leave later: schedule it. Hold Send, choose a suggested or custom time, and confirm with Send.
- You only need to acknowledge someone: react with an emoji. Hold the message and select a reaction instead of composing a separate reply.
- You return to the same thread often: pin the conversation from the mobile conversation list. Remember the 20-conversation limit and the India restriction.
- You need to retrieve one important detail: star the individual message, then use the Starred search filter.
These choices can be combined. For example, you can schedule a text in a conversation, pin that conversation so it remains easy to open, and star a particular message inside it. Each action retains its own purpose: send time, acknowledgment, conversation priority, or message retrieval.
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
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- 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
Troubleshooting by symptom
“Holding Send does not show scheduling”
Check the Android version first; Google’s stated requirement is Android 7.0 or later. Then make sure you are touching and holding the actual Send control after entering text. If a scheduled item already exists, open the conversation and use its Schedule control to edit, send now, or delete it.
“The scheduled text did not leave at the selected time”
Check whether the phone had Wi‑Fi or mobile data at that moment. Google says an offline phone sends the message after it reconnects, so the selected time can pass while the message remains pending.
“I cannot react to a message”
Confirm that the Google Messages account is connected to an Android device. For SMS/MMS, check the documented country list—United States, France, Canada, and Australia—and whether the item is text rather than a photo or video received through MMS.
“I cannot find Pin”
Perform the action from the mobile conversation list by holding the conversation. Pinning is unavailable in India, and Google limits the list to 20 pinned conversations. Google Messages for Web can display pins but is not the place to create one.
“I need a saved message, not a higher conversation”
Use Star on the individual message and locate it through the Starred filter. Pinning would prioritize the whole conversation and would not identify the exact message you want to retrieve.
“The reaction appears on text but not a picture”
That behavior matches Google’s documented SMS/MMS limitation: reactions apply to text, not photos or videos received through MMS. Test the hold gesture on a text message and verify the country and account requirements before troubleshooting the app further.
“I can see pins on the Web but cannot add one”
That is expected under Google’s stated device rule. Use the mobile app to hold the conversation and tap Pin; the Web version can display the resulting pinned conversation.
Practical workflows
Planning a later reminder
Open the intended conversation, write the reminder, hold Send, choose a suggested or custom date and time, and tap Send. Leave the scheduled item in that thread so you can use its Schedule control if the plan changes. If the phone is offline at the chosen time, reconnect it to allow sending.
Acknowledging a group update
Hold the specific update, select an emoji, and tap the reaction cluster if you need to see who else responded. If you picked the wrong emoji, hold the same message again and choose another; tap the highlighted reaction to remove your own response.
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.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
Keeping a frequently used thread and a key detail
Pin the conversation from the mobile list for quick access, then star the exact message containing the detail. The pin keeps the thread near the top, while the Starred filter provides a direct way to retrieve the message later.
Official help for the controls
For the scheduling procedure and offline behavior, see Google Messages Help: More features in Google Messages. For emoji reactions, country and media restrictions, account connection, and the iPhone-reaction display setting, see Google Messages Help: Use expressive features in Google Messages. For stars, pins, the 20-conversation limit, and mobile/Web behavior, see Google Messages Help: Star messages & pin conversations. Google’s quick-action reference is also available at Touch and hold to access quick actions in Google Messages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a text in Google Messages?
Open the conversation, type the text, touch and hold Send, choose a suggested time or select a date and time, tap Next for a custom schedule, and then tap Send.
What if my phone is offline when a scheduled message is due?
Google says the message waits and is sent after the device reconnects to Wi‑Fi or mobile data. It may therefore leave later than the selected time.
Can I edit or cancel a scheduled message?
Yes. Open the conversation, tap the Schedule control beside the scheduled message, and choose to update it, send it immediately, or delete it.
Why can’t I react to an MMS photo or video?
Google’s SMS/MMS guidance limits reactions to text messages, not photos or videos received through MMS. SMS/MMS reactions are listed for the United States, France, Canada, and Australia.
How do I remove an emoji reaction?
Touch and hold the message with your reaction, then tap the highlighted reaction. To replace it, choose a different emoji instead.
Can I pin more than 20 conversations?
No. Google states that up to 20 conversations can be pinned. Unpin an old thread from the mobile conversation list before pinning another.
Can I pin a conversation from Google Messages for Web?
No. Google says pinning must be performed on a mobile device, although pinned conversations can be viewed on mobile and Google Messages for Web.
What is the difference between pinning and starring?
A pin moves an entire conversation to the top of the list. A star saves one individual message and makes it available through the Starred filter in search or More options.
The Bottom Line
Use the hold gesture that matches your goal: hold Send to schedule, hold a message to react, hold a conversation in the mobile list to pin, and hold an individual message to star it. Scheduling needs Android 7.0 or newer and device connectivity at or after the chosen time; SMS/MMS reactions have country and media limits; pins are limited to 20 conversations and cannot be created in India or from the Web.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
