Here's What's New in Messages on iOS 26: Polls, Backgrounds, and More

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced several new features coming to the Messages app with iOS 26, which is available in beta starting today and will be released later this year.

iOS 26 allows users to set custom backgrounds in conversations, and it introduces the ability to create polls for voting.

In the Messages app, users can now screen messages from unknown senders. Apple says messages from unknown senders will appear in a dedicated folder, where users can mark the phone number as known, ask for more information, or delete it. These messages will remain silenced until a user accepts them.

In group chats, users can now see typing indicators, plus send and receive Apple Cash.

A new Live Translation feature in the Messages app, powered by Apple Intelligence, can translate text and audio on the fly.

Read our overall iOS 26 announcement post to learn more about the update.

Article Link: Here's What's New in Messages on iOS 26: Polls, Backgrounds, and More

 

[tekboi]

Meh.

 

[ultratiem]

Thank god Apple AI can detect when a poll could be of use. Because I can’t. Impossible. If it weren’t for AI, I would not be able to decide where to eat.

Thanks for also shoving obnoxious backgrounds on me from those I’m chatting with.

 

[SMH4KIDIOT]

Where is the updated RCS?

 

[Pudlo]

new backgrounds?!! guys this is so amazing! I was waiting years for this! life will never be the same again!

 

[tribeaumes]

Yawwwwn. 🥱

 

[applefan8254]

Can we get a web based cross platform messages app that works across more platforms and devices? Thank you

 

[TimFL1]

Where is the updated RCS?

Hope it‘s in the full feature list (UP 3.0).

Can‘t believe group chat typing indicators is the most exciting addition they showcased for Messages.

 

[dkh587]

Where is the updated RCS?

that would’ve been more exciting than most of what they announced for Messages

 

[davebarnes]

How about using AI to automatically reject all political texts? All candidates. All political fund raising.

 

[otherorange]

Am I the only one who actively hates the idea of custom backgrounds in Messages? I want a consistent user interface, not a random background for each conversation I'm involved in. And if this behaves like Instagram chats, where someone else can change how MY conversation view looks I'm going to be very irritated.

 

[Kramerjn]

Am I the only one who actively hates the idea of custom backgrounds in Messages? I want a consistent user interface, not a random background for each conversation I'm involved in. And if this behaves like Instagram chats, where someone else can change how MY conversation view looks I'm going to be very irritated.

No, I've never liked it either. I agree with you that I wish they'd keep it so that it didn't update it for everyone! Maybe after a couple of beta iterations and feedback from users they will add that in there.

 

[Levithescienceguy]

If I send Apple Cash in a group chat, who gets it?

 

[SMH4KIDIOT]

How about using AI to automatically reject all political texts? All candidates. All political fund raising.

Mark it as spam, I'm sure it will learn to reject them automatically on your device.

 

[macduke]

For some reason the backgrounds don't bother me as much on devices like iPhone that use a full screen, but when they showed it on the Mac, it looked really awful and distracting to me. Maybe they just chose an example that was too contrasty, but I hope we can disable this on our end since it seems like either person can set what it looks like. Not sure if they mentioned how it handles conflicts, or if your choice only overrides it locally if it is already set.

 

[neuropsychguy]

If I send Apple Cash in a group chat, who gets it?

Take your pick.

Finders keepers.
First come first served.
King of the hill.
Winner takes it all.

 

[sittnick]

I only want the ability to block certain messages as Spam before I even have to look at them. I am constantly getting texts from "Owala" selling junk, and I know of no good way to block them.

 

[Innovati0n]

I only want the ability to block certain messages as Spam before I even have to look at them. I am constantly getting texts from "Owala" selling junk, and I know of no good way to block them.

Isn't that EXACTLY what one of the new features shown today does?

 

[polaris20]

Still no ability to pin a message, and/or create a Note from it?

 

[svish]

I like the customizable backgrounds. Will be turning it on. Other changes to the app are also good.

 

[queenxrara]

Apple today announced several new features coming to the Messages app with iOS 26, which will be available in beta starting today and released later this year.

iOS 26 allows users to set custom backgrounds in conversations, and it introduces the ability to create polls.

In the Messages app, users can now screen messages from unknown senders. Apple says messages from unknown senders will appear in a dedicated folder, where users can mark the phone number as known, ask for more information, or delete it. These messages will remain silenced until a user accepts them.

In group chats, users can now see typing indicators, plus send and receive Apple Cash.

A new Live Translation feature in the Messages app, powered by Apple Intelligence, can translate text and audio on the fly.

The first iOS 26 developer beta will be available starting today, and a public beta will follow next month. The software update will likely be released to the general public in September.

Article Link: Apple Announces New Features in Messages App on iOS 26

oh great heavens another bs update! like helllo?

 

[kurtfoster]

So many original ideas. So many mind blowing, amazing ideas that are earth shattering. That was sarcasm. Actually, what would be useful would be folders, so we could organize our messages by topic or otherwise.

 

[AppleTO]

I hope we can disable backgrounds if we don’t want to see them.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I still haven't heard if the Messages app will support GSMA RCS Universal Profile 3.0 for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) with RCS messages.

 

[biracialfamily91]

I love the idea of polls and backgrounds especially for my work group chat. It will be very useful there but I also agree with the rest that these aren’t really innovative features.