Question Un-Grouping Text Messages

[PGB1]

Hi All!
I'm new to Android, other than making phone calls. My phone has Andorid 11. I apologize if the answer to this is here on the forum already. I tried to phrase it a few ways, but didn't find the answer.

When I receive or send a text message, using the stock app, to anyone- when they send me a new text, all of the previous text messages with that person are connected to the new text that I received.

To better explain;
If, on January 2, 2022 I sent a text to Amos Smith and on March 20, 2023 Amos sends me a new text, the old 2022 message is attached. If on April 3, 2024, i send a message to Amos, all of the previous messages are attached.

Wishing not to delete the messages, I put them in the Archive to try to stop the attaching of old messages to new. That didn't work.
Is there a way to have every message from someone treated as a new, stand-alone message?

Thank You For Helping. I absolutely appreciate it.
Paul

 

[Laura Knotek]

Hi Paul. What messaging app are you using?

 

[PGB1]

Hi Laura,
Thank You Very Much for helping!
The Messages app is the one that came with the phone. When I go to Settings - Apps, it says "Messages By Google" At the bottom, the page says "version messages.android_20241120_00_RC07.ph"

I can't find more details for the version.

Thanks Again. I appreciate your help,
Paul

 

[spARTacus]

...When I receive or send a text message, using the stock app, to anyone- when they send me a new text, all of the previous text messages with that person are connected to the new text that I received.

...Is there a way to have every message from someone treated as a new, stand-alone message?

I'm not aware of any messaging apps that will do what you seem to be looking for. Even FB Messenger for example, which is more of a social media messaging app as opposed to a traditional text/SMS messaging app, will also basically always append new messages from same contact onto/into the thread for that particular contact/identity. My guess it's that way because that's how most everyone has evolved to want/expect it, in terms of how/why all the developers make their apps do the same. What you seem to be asking for would in my mind almost be like a non-conversation mode option for what lots of people do for their emails, which interesting is available as an option as part of most email apps. It will be interesting if some others also chime in, to indicate if there are any messaging apps that might be able to do what you are looking for.

 

[VidJunky]

Welcome to Android Central forums. The format of the message is based on who created the group. In one of your comments you mentioned, when you receive a message, well from there it is all up to whomever created the group and started the conversation.

If you go into your settings you will see that there is an option for how to handle group messages, send to everyone as an MMS message or send to individual members as an SMS. When the option is to send to everyone, everyone gets the messages, everyone gets the replies. This is often used for collaborations where everyone needs the information. When individual is selected everyone gets the original message but each person receives the message as if it were a private message from the sender. This is good if you want to create one message for a group of people but members of the group don't know one another, there are privacy concerns where members have not agreed to share their contact info, or replies should not be shared with anyone other than the sender. In the latter case replies only go between the sender and each individual, which also means that Sally and Bill will not know that they are each part of Mike's group message.

If you feel that you do not want your replies shared with the group you will have to privately message whomever started the group thread.

If you do not want to receive other member's replies your only option would be silence the notifications for that thread. Even if you delete the thread it will only come back when the next person replies, minus whatever was there when you deleted your copy of the thread.

It is unlikely that the originator would change their practice of including everyone in an MMS style thread but you could also request that they use the individual option for group messages and perhaps sight incidents where it may not be appropriate for everyone to see your replies as a basis for this request.

Let us know how it goes and what the outcome is. Best wishes.

 

[PGB1]

Thank You All For Helping!
I very much appreciate your explanations about how the whole thing works.

As I understand, should I delete the messages from, for example Sue, next time Sue sends me a new message the old ones should not be attached. Did I get this correct?

If that's the case, I'll work on figuring out how to save messages before deleting. The Google instructions didn't work. The choices of where to tap to save aren't on my phone. Perhaps SMS Backup and Restore will work.

I also appreciate your explanation of private versus group, VidJunky. I didn't know that was available and can be handy.

Thanks Again,
Paul

 

[VidJunky]

Yes that is correct. Let's say you have a message thread of 4 messages. The initial message from Sue, Richard's reply, your reply, and Sue's follow up. If you delete those messages, and then Richard, who we all know talks too much, puts in his final 2 cents, the only message you will have is the last one from Richard, no context, no backstory, just that one final message. Which if we know Richard, and we do, won't be his final message for long. Moral of the story don't be a Rihcard.