A major bug in the latest Google Messages beta is wreaking havoc on some Android users, particularly those with Pixel and Samsung phones. The culprit? Version 20250610_00_RC02.phone.openbeta_dynamic of the app.
To check your version, head to Settings > Apps > See all apps > Messages. Scroll to the bottom of the App info page and compare the version number. If it matches the one above, you’ve got the bugged version.
So what’s the issue? The new forward button – a circular icon with a double-pointed arrow curving right – is completely broken. Pressing it instantly crashes the app instead of letting you choose contacts to share content with. Worse yet, attempting to use the Messages option from the Android Share Sheet (like sharing a link from Chrome) also causes the app to crash.
Until Google rolls out a fix, your best workaround is old-school: copy and paste links manually into the message thread. For images, save them to your device and use the Gallery option inside the chat thread to share them.
If you’re tired of waiting for a fix, you can leave the beta program. Just tap the Leave This Program button. Then, reinstall the stable version from the Play Store.
Meanwhile, Google is working on a fresh new look for the Messages Settings interface using the Material 3 Expressive design. This redesign, which groups menu items into modern toggled containers, hasn’t yet rolled out to most users – including those running Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 on the Pixel 6 Pro.
Stay tuned for updates, and in the meantime, steer clear of that forward button!