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Is the Latest Google Messages Update Ruining Your Chats? Discover How to Restore Lost Contact Photos!
A recent update to Google Messages has triggered a visual bug for many users, causing contact photos to disappear from chat lists and be replaced by default initials. While the photos remain visible in the Contacts app and briefly flash when opening a conversation, they vanish from the main messaging interface, making it harder to quickly identify contacts.
Who’s Affected?
Both Pixel and Samsung users have reported this issue. The bug seems particularly prevalent among users running the beta version of Google Messages. Some reports suggest it may affect contacts who use iPhones more frequently, but the problem is not limited to them. Not all users are impacted; some have found their contact photos remain intact even after updating or restarting the app.
Community Experiences
Users on Reddit have shared their frustrations and attempted solutions. For example, one user noted, “Happened to me as well. But only for contacts that are iPhone users.” Another temporarily fixed it by uninstalling updates, only to have the issue return the next day.
Standard troubleshooting steps-such as clearing the app cache, force-closing, restarting the device, or reinstalling the app-have generally not resolved the problem.
Possible Workarounds
If you’re experiencing missing contact photos in Google Messages, consider these strategies:
- Opt out of the beta: Many users found that switching back to the stable release restored their contact photos.
- Uninstall updates: Temporarily rolling back updates may bring back the images, but this fix is often short-lived.
- Backup and reinstall: Back up your messages, uninstall Google Messages, and reinstall it, though this has mixed results.
- Wait for a fix: Google has not yet acknowledged the bug or provided an official patch date. The issue may be related to the recent rollout of the “Delete for everyone” feature, suggesting a possible unintended side effect.
Why This Matters
Contact photos are a key visual cue for quickly identifying conversations with family, friends, and colleagues. Their sudden disappearance disrupts daily communication and can be especially irritating for users who rely on these images for efficient messaging.
What’s Next?
There is no official timeline for a fix. Users are encouraged to report the issue through the Google Messages app to help prioritize a resolution. In the meantime, those who value contact photos may want to avoid the beta program or delay updates until the bug is addressed.
By staying informed and patient, users can minimize disruption until Google delivers a permanent solution. If you rely on visual cues in your conversations, consider sticking to the stable version of Google Messages for now.