A bug in the latest beta version of the Google Messages app is causing certain Android phones, particularly Pixel and Samsung devices, to crash. The affected version is 20250610_00_RC02.phone.openbeta_dynamic. Users can check their version by navigating to Settings > Apps > See all apps, selecting Messages, and verifying the version number at the bottom of the app info page. This glitch specifically impacts the new forward button, which is designed to allow users to share texts or images easily by bringing up a list of contacts.
However, pressing this forward button leads to an immediate crash of the app. Additionally, users have reported that tapping on Messages in the Android Share sheet from other apps, such as Chrome, also results in a crash. To work around this issue, affected users are currently advised to manually copy and paste links to share them through Google Messages. For images, it’s recommended to save them directly to the device and use the Gallery icon within a message thread to share them.
Until Google releases an update to resolve the bug, this manual method remains the most effective solution. If users prefer not to wait for the fix, they can opt out of the Google Messages beta program. To do so, they must follow steps in their app settings and then download the stable version from the Play Store. Additionally, Google is reportedly working on a new design for the Messages app’s Settings page, featuring a Material 3 Expressive redesign, though this update has not yet been widely rolled out.