Google Messages will alter how YouTube video links appear, a change that may not be well-received.
Removing a key piece of information from the link will make some Android users mad.
The latest Google Messages update alters YouTube link displays within conversations. When a YouTube link is sent alone, the URL is now hidden, and the video preview appears larger with a brighter background and bigger text. However, including a comment with the link keeps the URL visible above the preview. Screenshots are included to illustrate these changes.
While this modification offers a cleaner design, some users may dislike the URL's removal. To retain URL visibility, include a comment alongside the link. Alternatively, users can disable previews altogether by navigating to Messages Settings > Automatic previews and selecting "Show all previews" or "Show only web link previews".
Tapping a YouTube link now initiates the video in Google Messages' picture-in-picture player. Disabling PiP expands the video to full screen within the app, but there is no option to directly open the video in the YouTube app. This feature is available in Google Messages beta version 20251121_00_RC01 and was observed on a Pixel 6 Pro running Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3.2.
For those not using Google Messages, it can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
The removal of the URL might frustrate users because it previously offered a direct link to the video's YouTube page. The original link appearance allowed one-tap access to the YouTube app for video viewing.
Now, videos can only be viewed through Google Messages' PiP mode, which some may find less convenient. Viewing in PiP requires an extra step to enlarge the video, while opening it in the YouTube app immediately provides a full-sized, landscape-compatible view. This added step could be the reason for potential user dissatisfaction with the new link presentation.
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