Google Messages introduces QR Code verification for safer chats

Google is rolling out a new layer of security to its popular Messages app, aiming to make end-to-end encryption both easier to understand and more reliable. The feature, currently available in the beta version of Google Messages, replaces long strings of verification numbers with a much simpler QR code system. The goal is to ensure users know exactly who they are talking to, protecting private conversations from interception.

Until now, verifying encryption in Google Messages involved comparing an 80-digit code between two devices — a cumbersome process that few users likely followed. By contrast, the new method allows people to confirm their connection simply by scanning a QR code displayed on the other person’s phone. This change makes a highly technical step far more approachable to everyday users, lowering the barrier for strong security practices.

The new option appears under the “Details” page of a conversation in Google Messages. There, users can access the End-to-end encryption card, which now includes the choice to “Verify encryption.” Tapping this brings up a new “Security & privacy” panel where Google explains the process.

Users are prompted to scan their contact’s QR code, then have their contact scan theirs in return. Once completed, both sides can be confident that only they can read their RCS (Rich Communication Services) messages. For those who prefer the traditional method, the 80-digit code comparison is still available under the “Compare verification codes” option.

While the system already lets users scan QR codes directly within Google Messages, there are plans to integrate verification status into the Google Contacts app. Once live, this will allow users to check which keys they’ve verified by visiting the “Connected apps” section in Contacts. For now, however, that integration is not yet active.

Instead, the Messages app links to the Android System Key Verification tool, which comes pre-installed on most devices. This ensures that the QR code process feels native and doesn’t require downloading any new software.

Google isn’t treating this simply as a Messages-only feature. The company has previously announced that this “unified system for public key verification” will eventually extend to third-party apps. The idea is to create a standardized way for people to confirm their communications are secure, regardless of the platform they’re using.

For now, the QR code option is only available to users running the latest beta version of Google Messages. The stable release hasn’t yet included the feature, but Google has said it will roll out broadly in 2025 for devices running Android 9 and above.