“I can't understand why this wasn't like this 10 years ago,” say Android users about a new trick

ANDROID phones may soon get the ability to edit their text messages.

Details of a surprise free upgrade to Google Messages have been leaked online.

Post editing is almost doneCredit: Google

That's the default messaging app on Android phones, which Google says is used by more than 1 billion people.

Apple's own alternative – iMessage on Messages – introduced the ability to edit texts in iOS 16.

But Google Messages still doesn't offer this feature, even though hints of its development have previously been found in test versions of the app.

Now gadget blog DeSpAndroid has found more evidence of a message editing feature in the beta test version of Google Messages.

It works by allowing you to long press on a chat, which will bring up a pencil icon.

Tapping the pencil icon will bring up a text editing window titled “Edit Post.”

You can then press Send to edit the message.

Of course, it is impossible to say exactly when – or in what form – this feature will appear.

But Android fans gave hundreds of votes on a Reddit thread about the leak.

One user who replied in the thread cheered, “That's a great idea!”

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But some users complained that it took too long to arrive.

“I still can't understand how this wasn't done at least ten years ago,” one commenter replied.

“Google could have cornered the entire world except the US with it, because that's what WhatsApp actually is. Billion users, oh well.”

Another joked that it would probably be postponed, writing: 'Looking forward to it in the future next one few years when it is rolled out to a few people.”

RECEIVE THE MESSAGE

The leak comes just a few months after Google unveiled a new series functions for messages.

Google unveiled the features to celebrate 1 billion people using the encrypted RCS chats in Google Messages.

One of the new features was Photomoji, which lets you turn your photos into post responses.

Another was Voice Moods, which lets you add emoji-like animations to your voice notes.

Google has also unveiled screen effects that bring your messages to life by animating the words.

New custom bubbles let you change the bubble color and background of your chats depending on who you're talking to.

You can also send animated emojis and create custom chat profiles with a name and image.