{
  "id": 17386941,
  "title": "The 10 best custom chat themes I made in Google Messages",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/the-10-best-custom-chat-themes-i-made-in-google-messages",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-31T10:30:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Android Authority",
    "slug": "android-authority",
    "url": "https://www.androidauthority.com/best-google-messages-custom-chat-themes-3728559/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Google Messages launched chat themes in late August, allowing users to personalize their conversations with custom colors and wallpapers. I've experimented with various themes and created ten that I believe are particularly appealing. These themes can be made using built-in wallpapers or personal photos.\n\nStarting with built-in wallpapers, one of my favorites is a wavy blue lines wallpaper from the Textures folder. Paired with the third color theme, it creates a calming effect without appearing cluttered. For a space-themed wallpaper, I adore the Elephant's Trunk Nebula photo. The default color option pairs best with it, offering a rich orange with yellow accents.\n\nAnother space wallpaper I like is the Rosette Nebula, with colors that are warm and orange-yellow. Color six is the best match, providing a rich orange with yellow accents. Lastly, the second sunset wallpaper in the Sunsets folder looks great with the third color option, featuring a yellow sun against a blue sky.\n\nFrom the Backdrops app, I used the Graphite Grooves wallpaper, which has a subtle design suitable for a calming chat theme. The eighth color option complements it well, creating a sleek and stealthy appearance. Another Backdrops wallpaper, Gradient Hills, transitions from dark blue to purple and pink/orange, making the blue color option a great choice.\n\nThe Stock Pixel wallpaper, reminiscent of the original Pixel and Pixel XL, is a solid choice for adding Pixel nostalgia to your chats. Any of the bluish colors would pair nicely with it, but I particularly like the green one. Lastly, the Halftone '86 wallpaper is a bit busier but works well with the eighth color option, featuring pink chat bubbles against a colorful background.",
  "summary": "So many ways to spruce up your conversations.",
  "key_points": [
    "Wavy blue lines wallpaper with third color theme creates calming effect",
    "Elephant's Trunk Nebula photo pairs best with default color option",
    "Graphite Grooves wallpaper complements eighth color option"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Seeking Alpha News",
        "title": "Amazon and Google both have custom chips. Here's what they said about their future.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/amazon-and-google-both-have-custom-chips-heres-what-they-said-about",
        "published": "2026-10-31T12:00:27.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}