Google Messages Unsubscribe Feature Removed for US and Spain Users

Google Messages users in the US and Spain are facing a new frustration: the Unsubscribe feature has been disabled, leaving inboxes cluttered with unwanted messages once again. Initially launched in April, the Unsubscribe tool allowed users to easily opt out of receiving spam or unwanted business messages.

Tapping on this option sent a “STOP” message to the sender, requesting them to remove the user from their contact list.

However, as of June 16, Google has made changes that will affect users in these two countries. For US users, the Unsubscribe button has disappeared from the bottom of chats, though it remains accessible through the conversation menu. Those who are using older versions of Google Messages will still have access to the feature. The change impacts both SMS/MMS conversations with businesses and chats using RCS.

In Spain, the situation is even worse, with the Unsubscribe option being entirely removed from both the chat menu and conversation settings

. While it’s still possible to opt out of spam messages by replying with “STOP,” this method isn’t as intuitive, and many users might not even be aware of it.

The removal of the feature from these two countries raises questions. Google claims the change is part of an effort to improve user experience, but this seems questionable given that the feature remains in place for other regions. It seems more likely that pressure from businesses, especially political campaigns and large corporations, played a role in getting Google to pull the plug on this feature. As a result, users in the US and Spain should expect their inboxes to become a lot messier without this simple tool to curb spam.