Android Text Messages: What Do The Single & Double Check Marks Mean?

Android users who use the Google Messages app may have noticed a check mark or two below sent messages, but what do these icons represent? The Google Messages app isn’t just an SMS and MMS application. It also has chat features that allow users to send end-to-end encrypted one-on-one or group messages over an internet connection.

The Google Messages app recently got an update that replaces the text-based read receipts with icons. With the new update, check marks will now be displayed under messages to indicate their status. A single check mark means the message has been sent to the recipient. Two check marks, on the other hand, means the message has been delivered. Read messages also display two check marks, but unlike the check marks for delivered messages that are housed in white or empty circles, these are housed in colored circles. If a user sees a stopwatch icon, it means the message is still being sent.

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Check Marks Are A Universal Language

While the check marks may take a while to get used to, the Google Messages app is following in the footsteps of other messaging apps which also use icons to indicate read receipts. It also makes for a uniform design as Google already uses an icon to indicate if a message is encrypted. Another advantage of switching to icons is that they are universally understood compared to text, which takes up a lot more space on the screen.

Previously, when a user tapped on a sent message, they would see text underneath that said ‘Sent,’ ‘Delivered,’ or ‘Read.’ For messages that have not yet been sent, the text would read ‘Sending.’ However, following the new update, Google has decided to do away with text in favor of icons.

The check marks are similar to what WhatsApp uses as message indicators, with a single gray tick indicating that a message has been sent but not received, and a double check gmark signifying that a message has been delivered. A blue double check mark, on the other hand, means that the recipient has read the message. Many Android users will be familiar with WhatsApp’s check marks, so it makes sense that Google Messages is making a similar transition.

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Source: Google Support