Google Messages now lets you ‘Double tap to heart’

Google Messages is more widely rolling out the simple ability to “Double tap to heart” on Android. 

This is a straightforward addition that saves you from long-pressing on a message for the row of reactions in order to send the Red Heart/love. (It’s interesting that Google decided on that emoji versus a more universal and popular thumbs-up. The ability to customize and set what you use most would be rather nice.)

Once rolled out, a small prompt that disappears afterwards tells you about the capability. 

Work on this double tap feature got underway in February and it rolled out for some Google Messages users in the intervening months, but is only now seeing wide beta and stable availability after a server-side update.

It comes as a redesign of RCS status indicators and read receipts will get rid of the ability to tap on a message to see the timestamp and encryption lock, though doing so currently prompts you to swipe left. This somewhat clears the way for the double-tap gesture.

More on Google Messages:

• Verizon will wait another month to kill its Message+ app in favor of Google Messages
• Google Messages moves Magic Compose button out of text field row
• What Google Messages features are rolling out [U]