Google Messages Crashing Bug Affects Galaxy Users, Workaround Available

If you are using the beta version of Google Messages on your Galaxy smartphone, you might want to steer clear of the latest update. It looks like a strange bug is causing the app to crash shortly after launch, specifically on devices running Android 16 (and 16 QPR1). Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones are among the affected devices.

The latest beta of Google Messages is causing app crashes

Several affected users took to Reddit to complain about the issue, telling how the Google Messages app crashes just seconds after opening. Surprisingly, they can still reply to incoming messages through notifications, chat bubbles, contacts, or shortcuts. However, if they try to go back to view their all conversation list, the app crashes.

According to 9to5Google, most reports are coming from Samsung and Pixel phone users. The publication further says the newly released beta version 20250805_00_RC00 is the culprit for the crashes. Furthermore, if your device is running either Android 16 or 16 QPR1, you may experience this issue.

While the beta version lets you get a taste of the latest features before they are officially released, it also brings some unexpected bugs that can hinder your daily use. The latest beta build of the Google Messages app is one such example, preventing users from opening the app. As of this writing, Google has not commented on the issue, but rest assured, the company will address it soon.

Some basic workarounds, such as restarting the device and clearing the app cache, have not worked for users. However, some affected users say that if you uninstall the latest Messages update and then reinstall it, the app may work. To do this, go to App Info and then tap on the three-dot overflow menu in the top-right corner. From the dropdown, select Uninstall updates and reinstall again by visiting the Google Play Store. Don’t worry, this process does not wipe your chat history.