Google Messages app texts now grouping pics in grid format rather than stacking them - how can I change this?

[Android Dude777]

When people send multiple pics in a single text, the pics are now grouped visually in a grid rather than stacked one on top of another, the way they used to be (this just started recently). How can I change this back to the previous way of displaying them? Thanks.

 

[mustang7757]

Hi
Can you show a screenshot of this ? Just block personal information

 

[B. Diddy]

I see that as well -- I doubt there's any way to change it. Send feedback to Google about it from within the Messages app's settings.

 

[airdog06757]

Hi
Can you show a screenshot of this ? Just block personal information

Yup, got your screenshot right here. This is a horrible change.

 

[VidJunky]

Looking at your screenshot the images appear to be ones you received, does this also happen to images you send?

How many images before it changes to this style? I've attaching a bunch of pics and mine are all single pics in a row like you described from before. Does this happen with 4 pics or only after 6, is there a point where it still acts the same as you remember and after that it switches to this?

Because it looks like these are images that you received does the sender make a difference? Is there anything you can think of that might tie this effect to specific senders? Only happens to my iPhone friends, only happens to people I'm not in group conversations with?

Do you get the same effect when you are the sender?

What phone do you have?

The difficulty here is the app is working. We should assume that if it is working there is nothing wrong so there's probably nothing to fix. If you've gone through the settings and haven't found one to change this behavior, it was probably done intentionally. I see where it could be a benefit, taking up less space and making pics easier to view with less scrolling, but based on your account this is likely the result of an app update. I looked at mine and I can no longer find the "uninstall updates" option that we used to have for pre-installed apps or I'd say uninstall the updates and see if the behavior returns to normal. Barring that my next piece of advice would be to contact the developer. Ask for a fix or work around and see if they have any advice to offer, because I doubt we'll be able to fix something that isn't broken. Only they can do that.

 

[mustang7757]

Yup, got your screenshot right here. This is a horrible change.View attachment 372782

Is this when someone sends you multiple pictures at once?

 

[notforhire]

my meager contribution: I received a text from my daughter (iPhone) as part of a group chat with pics and short videos of the grandsquirts and mine looked just like the above. however, when I clicked on it, there was an iCloud link to download the pics. so, perhaps, the "grid" is nothing more than a thumbnail preview.

 

[mustang7757]

my meager contribution: I received a text from my daughter (iPhone) as part of a group chat with pics and short videos of the grandsquirts and mine looked just like the above. however, when I clicked on it, there was an iCloud link to download the pics. so, perhaps, the "grid" is nothing more than a thumbnail preview.

I think telegram does this with multiple photos u send also.

 

[Bkdodger1]

I just did a test and send myself some wallpapers from my iPhone to Fold and they show on top of each other when I was in the message and then goes grid when I went out of message and back in, it did the same with outgoing

 

[VidJunky]

@Bkdodger1, what happens when you click that collage?

Again, it seems like it would be some kind of space saving thing so your feed isn't a long string of images.

 

[Bkdodger1]

@Bkdodger1, what happens when you click that collage?

Again, it seems like it would be some kind of space saving thing so your feed isn't a long string of images.

One photo enlarges and then I can scroll left to right and back

 

[VidJunky]

That sounds like it's limiting the scroll, going left to right vs up and down.

Given there doesn't appear to be an actual setting for this, and if it's happening to everyone it isn't a bug, so for those who are bothered by this, reaching out to the developer is your best course of action.

Send your comments here, apps-help@google.com, and be sure to name the app since this appears to be a general email address and not specific to any one of their products.