Google Messages may finally let you copy just part of a text 💬

Ever received a long text with an address, a verification code, or a link—when all you actually needed was one tiny snippet? Then you know the quiet frustration: long-press, tap “Copy”… and end up with the entire message dumped into your clipboard. It’s one of those small but persistent annoyances on Android. The good news? Google finally seems ready to fix it.

A frustration as old as the app 😤

Since its early days, Google Messages has had a surprisingly basic limitation: you can’t select just part of a received message.

Long-press on a message bubble and you’ll see the usual contextual menu, including “Copy.” But tap it, and the app copies everything—no exceptions. The whole message, word for word, lands in your clipboard.

That’s merely inconvenient for short texts. But it becomes genuinely frustrating with longer messages. Picture this: your delivery driver sends a text with their phone number, a full address, and drop-off instructions. All you need is the building access code buried in the middle.

Right now, your only workaround is to copy the entire message, paste it into a notes app, and manually trim it down. It’s a clumsy fix for what feels like a day-one feature.

How it will work 🖱️

The feature was first spotted by Android Authority in the beta version messages.android_20260212_01_RC00.phone.openbeta_dynamic of the app.

The implementation looks refreshingly simple. After long-pressing a message, the updated contextual menu—part of a one-handed redesign that’s been rolling out gradually since January 2026—now displays the full message content. From there, you can drag your finger to highlight only the portion you want.

Once selected, Android’s native text-selection toolbar appears, letting you copy just that snippet. And if you still need the whole message? The classic “Copy” option remains intact. Nothing is being removed—Google is simply adding the flexibility users have been asking for.

When can you use it? 📅

For now, the feature is still hidden—even in the beta build. It appears to be controlled by a server-side flag, meaning not all beta users can access it at the same time. A gradual rollout, very much in Google’s playbook.

There’s no official timeline yet. But the fact that the feature is already embedded in the beta code is a strong signal that a broader release is likely in the coming months.

If you’re eager to try it early, your best bet is to join the Google Messages beta program on the Play Store.

💬 Has this limitation ever slowed you down? Have you found yourself jumping through hoops just to extract a phone number from a long text? Let us know in the comments—we’re curious whether this “small” update feels as overdue to you as it does to the rest of the Android world.