Google Messages, a core app for Android users, has recently been plagued with performance problems, particularly concerning photo and video loading. These issues, ranging from slow loading times and blurry images to app crashes, have frustrated users attempting to view media attachments within the app. Google has acknowledged these issues and has confirmed a fix is currently being deployed.
The problems centered around accessing photos and videos sent and received via RCS chat. Users reported a variety of frustrating experiences, including the app slowing down, crashing, and failing to load media altogether. Even when media did load, users encountered issues with blurry images and an inability to interact with the content.
Google Community Manager Monika Y addressed the situation in a recent update. While details were scarce, Monika confirmed Google’s active involvement in resolving the problem.
Google Messages app on a Pixel 8 Pro, showing an RCS Chat message thread.
“Our team has been actively working on this, and we’ve recently rolled out updates aimed at significantly improving media receiving performance. We’re hoping you’ll see a noticeable difference now,” the Google representative stated. Reinforcing their commitment, Monika added, “However, we also know that issues can be complex, and we’re committed to getting this right. Please continue to share your experiences with us.” Google is actively seeking feedback to ensure the implemented fix effectively addresses the reported issues.
As reported by The Verge, the fix appears to be server-side, meaning no Android updates are required to benefit from the improvements. If you’ve recently experienced these media loading problems within Google Messages, it’s worth checking the app again, as the fix may have already been applied. The improved performance should provide a smoother and more reliable experience for viewing shared media.
