Google Messages will let you add personality to voice recordings

Google Messages, one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, is getting a fun upgrade that will add more personality to your voice messages.

Beta testers get first look

If you’re a beta tester of Google Messages (build 20240501_RC00), you might be among the first to try a new audio recording interface and feature called Voice Moods.

As Google-focused tech outlet 9to5Google reports, the new recorder makes sending voice messages easier than ever. Just press the microphone button and you’re ready to record. Plus, it comes with built-in noise cancellation to make your voice messages crystal clear.

With the new user interface, all you have to do is press the microphone button at the bottom to start recording your voice. As you speak, you’ll immediately see the waveform capturing your message, along with convenient controls to pause, stop, or even join your recording. And for noisy places, there’s also a convenient on/off switch option.

You can also spice things up by choosing from one of nine vocal moods:

Smiling face with hearts
Party face
Rolling on the floor laughing
Face crying loudly
Angry face
Slightly smiling face
Crying face
Face with rolling eyes
Face with open mouth

With Voice Moods, you can add personality by adding animated emoji backgrounds to your audio message card. Do you feel stupid? Send a laughing emoji! Having a bad day? Let your friends know with a crying emoji.

The party face is just one of nine voice moods you can choose from (Image credit – 9to5Google)

However, if you’re not a fan of animations, you can turn them off in your settings and stick to regular static images.

If you can’t wait to test out these new features, make sure your Android phone is running the latest beta version of Google Messages. Keep in mind, however, that they may take a while to reach your device. And while SMS and MMS users will be able to take advantage of the recorder’s new design, voice moods are reserved for RCS chats, at least for now.