Clearing unread messages on Galaxy Watches gets easier

The Google Messages app, which is the default messaging app on Galaxy Watches, has started getting a new option that lets you mark newly arrived messages as read. This will make it easier to clear unread messages while also marking them read inside the app.

A new update (messages.android_20260212_01.RC00.wear.openbeta_dynamic) has been released for the Google Messages app on Wear OS devices. It brings a new button on incoming message notifications: Mark as unread. Clicking this new button marks all newly arrived messages in a thread as read and clears them from the notifications section without the need to open the app.

However, this is one limitation with this new option. The Mark as read button only appears when the notification first appears on the screen. So, if you miss seeing that notification, you won't be able to use the Mark as read action for newer messages. You can install the new update by opening the Play Store on your Galaxy Watch and checking the Updates section.

Google appears to be fixing all the shortcomings of its messaging app on. Android and Wear OS devices. It recently started brought the ability to copy a part of a messages on Android phones and tablets. In the coming months, more Galaxy phones and smartwatches would be able to send and receive RCS messages with iPhones.