topic Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small in Mobile Apps & Services

Samsung Messages App Too Small

Naffykins — Sun, 12 May 2024 08:21:00 GMT

Hi there! Can we talk about the Messages app? 🙏

I don't know if anyone else is annoyed by this but when trying to send text messages, the area in which you type is so small!

There are so many icons dominating the typing area that the view of what you're writing is tiny!

It feels very claustrophobic and due to having ADHD I really need a wider perspective of what's been written so I can reread before I send. (Currently having to write out longer texts in the Notes app then paste and send in Messages app)

I just wondered if there are any accessibility options to make this area larger? To turn off the menu items circled in red (seems they're all on the keyboard menu bar anyway 🤔).

I've tried changing any relevant settings I can find but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Thanks so much

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

Robin999 — Sun, 12 May 2024 08:26:52 GMT

You can press the return key several times before typing your message. This will expand the text box a bit better.

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

AndrewL — Sun, 12 May 2024 10:43:46 GMT

@Naffykins: When you tap on the text input field, this should expand the field and remove the '+' and Gallery/camera icons from the left side. You can also pinch the screen to reduce the size of the font. Let me know if this helps.

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

ynneL — Sun, 12 May 2024 12:33:46 GMT

It looks like you're using Google Messages, which is odd as I also use it but my layout is different to yours

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

millierangers — Mon, 13 May 2024 17:34:51 GMT

I cannot recieve any of my messages from messenger

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

VerVan91 — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 23:55:30 GMT

Hi!

I have the same problem and your advise didn`t work

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

Linda89 — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 19:54:38 GMT

Unfortunately, doing this doesn't increase the width of the column for typing. It stays just as narrow as before.

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

Linda89 — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 19:58:48 GMT

I tried tapping on the input field and nothing changed. All the icons stayed the same and there was the same way-too-narrow column for a typing text. There really should be a fix for this, since it's really annoying and definitely a step backwards over the Galaxy S9+ that I recently replaced with the Galaxy S24+.

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

Lauranicolle93 — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 17:51:56 GMT

Omg this drives me crazy!!! I've been trying to figure out how to change it all day. I feel like I can't even think straight ( also have ADHD 😅) when I am trying to send a text because the text box is so small. My husband has an older version and his is the normal size. I recently switched from an iPhone to this and so far this is the only thing that drives me crazy.

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

AndrewL — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 12:41:30 GMT

@Lauranicolle93: From the Google Messages landing page, tap your profile in the top right > Messages settings > Pinch to zoom conversation text, and make sure that this is toggled on.

Now, tap the Back button, open a conversation, and pinch the screen to reduce the size of the font. Let me know if this helps.

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

Linda89 — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 16:32:31 GMT

@AndrewL: What is the Google Messages landing page and how do I access it? In Google Messages itself, I can't find my profile on the top right or anywhere else.

Also, I know how to make the font smaller - but how small do I need to make it to stop the way-too-narrow texting column from being incredibly annoying?

In the old messages app - the Samsung Messages app, I guess - when you started typing in a text, the icons disappeared, making the typing column wide enough. In Google Messages, the icons stay there, keeping the typing column extremely narrow.

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

AndrewL — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 17:52:27 GMT

@Linda89: The landing page is the page that you see when you first open the Google Messages app. Your profile may appear as one of your initials, and should be visible to the right of the magnifying glass symbol in the upper right hand corner (above your conversations).

When attempting to recreate your issue, I found that when I tapped on the text input field, and began to type, the '+' symbol and 'Camera/Gallery' symbol to the left of the field was removed, and replaced with an arrow ('>'). Have you tried checking the Google Play Store for any available updates for the Google Messages app which might address the issue you're facing?

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

Linda89 — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 18:24:45 GMT

@AndrewL: Thanks. I found my profile and settings this time but Pinch to zoom conversation text was already toggled on.

I did make the text smaller and that helped but only a little. When I copied and pasted a 4-line message into the text box typing area, it was 9 lines, more than double the number of lines once the text is sent, and requiring an excessive amount of scrolling up if I want to reread a text before hitting Send.

I also went to the Google Play Store but I didn't find any available updates. It just said the app was already installed on my phone. Your experience in trying to recreate my issue is what should happen but it doesn't happen on my phone. The icons just stay there.

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

AndrewL — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 19:16:44 GMT

@Linda89: I'm not too sure why this might be happening. Can you confirm the model number and current Android version of your phone (located in Settings > About phone)? If you turn the phone to Landscape mode, do you notice an improvement i.e. do the icons remain to the left of the input field when you begin typing? This may also serve as a workaround, as the input field should get significantly larger with the extra screen space.

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

Andrew_Mac — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 10:44:22 GMT

Hi AndrewL, thank you for your interest in this discussion. It's great to get a moderator involved. I've also had the same problem for a number of years. The box in which to type SMS replies only allows around four lines. Yes, the font can be reduced to a hard to read small size, but this is an unhelpful solution. The box needs to expand as text is typed, yet still allow scrolling up to see the message to which a reply is being made. Could the problem please be escalated. It also appears on other community help websites such as redit. Many thanks.

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

Linda89 — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 16:28:03 GMT

Hi AndrewL, The model number of my phone is S24+ and the Android version is 14.
Thanks for suggesting trying Landscape mode. There's plenty of typing room in Landscape mode, and even more room when the icons - the one on the extreme left and the two on the extreme right - disappear, which they do when my keyboard appears. So, this might work for some people, but I'm not comfortable holding my phone this way with one hand and typing with the other. Maybe if I were a two-thumb typist, it would work, but I'm not. I use one finger to either type or swipe.
Any idea why the icons disappear in Landscape mode but not in Portrait mode?
Thanks.

Re: Samsung Messages App Too Small

Intrepid — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 22:47:28 GMT

Google is incompetent.