Google Messages Finally Lets Users Copy Part of a Text Message
Date: October 2, 2026
Google Messages is getting a useful feature that Android users have been requesting for a long time: the ability to copy only a selected portion of a text message instead of copying the entire message.
The feature is part of Google's redesigned long-press experience and is now rolling out more widely to Google Messages users.
Copy Only the Information You Need
Previously, copying a message generally meant copying the complete text. That could be inconvenient when a long message contained a phone number, address, tracking number or another specific piece of information.
With the new feature, users can select the exact section they want and copy it directly. Google says partial text selection was one of the most requested improvements for Messages.
How Partial Copying Works
The new process is straightforward:
Open a conversation in Google Messages.
Long-press the message containing the text.
Long-press the text inside the selected message again.
Drag the selection handles over the specific words or information you need.
Choose Copy from the available options.
The menu can also provide options such as Translate and Select all.
Redesigned Long-Press Menu
The partial-copy feature comes alongside a redesigned long-press menu.
Instead of relying mainly on the older toolbar at the top of the screen, Google Messages now places commonly used actions closer to the selected message. Options include replying, forwarding, copying, starring, deleting, selecting more messages and viewing message information.
Google has also optimized the experience for both light and dark themes and for landscape orientation.
Why the Update Matters
The change may look small, but it can save time when users receive long messages containing several pieces of information.
For example, someone may receive a message containing an entire delivery update but only need to copy the tracking number. Instead of copying everything and removing unwanted text later, they can now highlight the relevant portion immediately.
This also makes it easier to copy addresses, individual sentences, confirmation details and other short sections from longer messages.
Rollout Is Reaching More Users
The redesigned Google Messages experience began appearing more broadly in stable versions of the app during September, with Google officially announcing the new long-press experience around the end of the month. Availability can still vary because some parts of the rollout are controlled from Google's side.
Users who do not see the feature immediately may need to wait for the update to reach their device.
Google Messages Becomes More Convenient
The addition of partial text copying brings Google Messages closer to the way users expect modern messaging apps to behave.
Rather than forcing users to copy an entire message, the new system gives them more control over exactly what goes onto their clipboard. Combined with the redesigned long-press menu, the update makes everyday message management more convenient.
Disclaimer: Feature availability can vary by device, app version and rollout status. Information in this article reflects Google's published information and reporting available on October 2, 2026.