Previously, Google Messages allowed users to verify encryption by exchanging and manually comparing an 80-digit code. While effective, the process was cumbersome and rarely used by everyday users. The new QR code option simplifies this verification method by allowing contacts to scan each other’s codes directly. Once scanned, Google can confirm the identity of the devices involved in the conversation and alert users if suspicious or unauthorized activity is detected. This makes it harder for attackers to impersonate contacts or intercept conversations unnoticed.
According to reports, the feature will be available on devices running Android 9 and higher later this year. For those enrolled in the beta program, it can already be found within the Google Messages app. Users can access it by opening a conversation, tapping on the contact’s name, and navigating to the “End-to-end encryption” section under the details menu. Within that menu, the “Verify encryption” option now provides two methods: manually comparing the 80-digit code or scanning a QR code.
To complete the process, both participants must scan each other’s codes, after which the devices are marked as verified. Though integration with the “Connected apps” section in the Contacts app has been hinted at, this functionality has not yet gone live.
The addition of QR-based verification comes as part of a larger wave of updates designed to modernize and secure Google Messages. Recently, Google introduced a “Delete for everyone” option, giving users more control over sent messages.
The company also launched a sensitive content warning system and an unsubscribe button to block unwanted spam, following its announcement in October of last year about bolstering protections against abusive messaging practices.
With growing concerns about phishing, identity theft, and messaging fraud, the QR code feature provides a more user-friendly safeguard. By reducing friction in the verification process, Google increases the likelihood that more people will adopt it as part of their everyday communication.
While there is no official release date, the company is expected to roll out this security enhancement before the end of the year, continuing its push to position Google Messages as a secure and competitive alternative in the messaging app market.
