5 Ways to Mark All Messages as Read on Android
Between work messages, texts from friends, and those seemingly never-ending family group chats – your phone never stops buzzing. The app icons feature pesky badges that clutter your apps and can be distracting. Since opening each chat individually to mark them read is tiring, we’ll show you a faster way. Here’s how to mark all messages as read on your Android phone, including Google Messages and popular apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal.
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Google Messages is the default messaging app on most Android devices, including Google Pixel, Motorola, and Samsung Galaxy phones. For unread conversations, the message preview appears bold and a dot appears next to it on your conversation list. Here’s how to mark all text messages as read in Google Messages:
1.Open Google Messages app on Android.
2.Tap yourprofile picturein the top-right corner. If you’re using an older version, tap the hamburger menu instead.
3.Tap onMark all as read. You’ll see a toast message saying, ‘All messages marked as read.’
When you mark all the messages as read, the message previews in the conversation list will no longer appear bold, and any notification badges for those conversations, if present, will disappear.
Alternatively, you can mark individual messages as read in Google Messages, as shown below:
2.Long-press on a conversation to select it. Tap other conversations to select them if you want to.
3.Once done, tap thethree vertical dotson the top right. ChooseMark as Read.
The selected messages will be marked as read on your phone.
WhatsApp has a pretty neat interface, but those green dots on unread messages might not be everyone’s cup of tea. To mark messages as read, follow the steps below:
1.Open WhatsApp on your Android.
2.Long-press the conversation you want to mark as read. Tap additional conversations to select them if needed.
3.Tap thethree vertical dotsin the top-right corner and selectMark as Read.
If there are too many unread chats, use this method instead:
1.Tap and hold on a conversation to select it on WhatsApp.
2.Then, tap thethree vertical dotsand chooseSelect All.
3.Tap thethree vertical dotsagain and selectMark as read.
Telegram shows a green dot with the number of unread messages for each conversation. With the app’s busy interface, this can be overwhelming – especially if you’re in channels and groups with frequent updates. Here’s how to mark messages as read without opening them on Telegram:
1.Launch the Telegram app on Android.
2.Tap and hold to select the conversations you’d like to mark as read. Tapthree vertical dotsin the top-right corner.
3.Finally, chooseMark as Read.
Signalis a popular messaging app for Android and is known for its focus on security. It uses the open-sourceSignal Protocol, considered one of the strongest encryption standards available. This means your messages are protected so only you and the recipient can read them.
To help you manage your inbox, Signal displays a blue dot next to unread messages. Unlike Telegram and WhatsApp, you can directly mark all unread conversations as read (without having to select each) on Signal, as shown below:
1.Launch the Signal app on your phone.
2.Tap thethree vertical dots menuin the top-right corner.
3.Finally, tap onMark all read.
If you want to individually mark a message as read, long-press on it and tapRead.
Tips for Keeping Messages Organized on Android
Google Messages and instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal offer several built-in features to help you keep your message inbox organized. Read on:
Google Messages
WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal Messenger
Tidy Up Your Messages
Marking messages declutters your inbox, making it easier to find specific messages like a clean desk compared to a messy one. It also reduces distractions that come from unread badges. This lets you focus on what truly matters instead of wasting time on re-reading already-addressed messages. However, if a message is important and you might need to refer back to it later, don’t mark it as read. Instead, leave it unread orset a reminder.
Ritik Singh
With over 7 years of experience in tech, Ritik currently heads content at Techwiser.com. His journey started by sharing knowledge and helping others in online communities. That passion soon turned into a career in tech journalism, backed by a formal education in Electronic Media. He’s held editorial roles at GadgetsToUse and PC-Tablet, and has contributed to popular publications like HowToGeek and TheWindowsClub. With over 2,000 how-tos, reviews, and in-depth guides under his belt, Ritik has helped millions of readers get more out of their tech—from smartphones to smart homes.
