The Android text messaging app has been constantly redesigned over the years to meet the personalization and personalization needs of its users. Features such as changing the background image, font, and shape and color of the message bubbles were readily available to Android phone users. Unfortunately, with the Android 9 update, the messaging app has been reduced to the essentials. It was no longer possible to customize it according to personal preferences. Don’t worry, there are alternatives that can make the desired changes to the app’s layout.
First, you need to check if your phone supports the standard messaging app’s color, theme, and font changes. You can follow the steps below:
Open the Messages application -> Press the Plus button at the top right of the screen -> Select the Settings option -> Choose the Backgrounds option -> Select your preferred background.
If your phone is updated to Android 9 and later, the personalization feature of the messaging app is probably no longer available. In this case, you can always make limited changes, mainly to the color of your current email application, via one of the following options:
- Switch to night mode (Settings -> Display -> Night mode)
- Invert the colors of your phone display (Settings -> Accessibility -> Visibility improvements -> Negative colors)
- Change the theme of your phone (Settings -> Wallpapers and themes)
You can even download apps that offer a wider range of theme options. (Google Play -> Search for “themes”, “launchers”).
- GO Launcher – 3D parallax themes and HD wallpapers by GOMO Live (note 4.5 / 5, 100M + downloads)
This launcher offers thousands of free themes and HD wallpapers to stylize your entire phone, not just your messaging app. You can use multiple transition effects, 3D effects, live wallpapers and widgets to personalize your mobile experience. Managing apps is so much easier and more secure that you can hide or lock your apps and take photos if someone tries to unlock them without your permission.
But if you’re looking for a highly personalized and customizable messaging experience, you’ll need an app for that. Discover our best choices:
- Textra SMS by Delicious (note 4.5 / 5, 10M + downloads)
This app can be a customizable, stylish and responsive substitute for your original Android messaging app. It offers hundreds of models of different themes, colors and styles of bubbles and icons, and countless emojis from various platforms. It allows you to switch between dark, light and auto-night modes in addition to functionality beyond just customizing the style such as the ability to schedule messages in advance and send them at a later date.
- SMS Chomps by Delicious (4.4 / 5 rating, 10M + downloads)
Chomps is equipped with a range of options that put FUN into customizable functions for a highly personalized texting experience. From LED notification colors, ring tones and vibration patterns to screen color, font size, text style and wallpapers; the possibilities are limitless! All of these features are free, but you can choose to make an in-app purchase to get rid of the ads.
- Mood Messenger SMS & MMS by Mad Seven (4.1 / 5 rating, 5M + downloads)
If you’re looking for more than just a nice replacement for your default messaging app, this is the app for you. It ensures a simple and smooth textual experience by providing a keystroke indicator to show when your written contact, group conversations, real-time caller ID, password protection and conversation encryption between Mood Premium users.
- Handcent Next SMS by Handcent (note 4.5 / 5, 1M + downloads)
Combining beauty and usefulness, Handcent is a messaging application that can make your life not only easier, but also elegant. It is supported on all your devices so you can check and send messages from your PC, Mac or tablet without disrupting your workflow by checking the texting app on your Android phone regularly. You can also respond quickly and transparently to messages when they appear without opening the app. With this application, you can receive and reply to your messages even on the go thanks to your smart watch thanks to its Wear OS support. To ensure complete confidentiality, you can add a password to encrypt your messages and protect them from prying eyes. Finding what you’re looking for in your inbox is no longer a problem when you can pin your favorite contacts up and see them first or simply use the search tool to sift through your messages by time , the most useful type or filter for you.
- New Messenger 2021 by Sunny Lighting (4.5 / 5 rating, 1M + downloads)
For a fun and colorful text experience, New Messenger allows total customization of the text interface from text bubbles and fonts, to choose or create your own themes. It offers other useful features such as group messaging, dual SIM support, muting notifications and speed dialing.
- Cute text SMS app by Thalia Ultimate Photo Editing (3.8 / 5 rating, 1M + downloads)
It is a free messaging application that allows you to customize the background, balloons and fonts. It contains many convenient options such as assigning images to your contacts, receiving delivery reports, delaying sending messages, and disabling notifications from specific contacts.