You can use your computer or Android tablet to chat with your friends through Google Messages for web, which shows what’s on your Google Messages mobile app. Google Messages for web sends SMS messages using a connection from your computer to your phone, so carrier fees will apply, just like on the mobile app.
Important: Your Google Account is used to:
- Pair the mobile app and your device. You can pair your Google Messages account on multiple devices, but only one computer can be active at a time.
- If you choose to use the QR code option instead of a Google Account, the QR code is unique to your computer or tablet.
What you need to get started
On your phone, you need:
- The latest version of Google Messages
- Wi-Fi or data connection
- Android 5.0 or higher. Learn how to check your Android version.
On your computer, you need:
- One of these web browsers: Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge. It is not available on Internet Explorer.
- An internet connection
Tip: You might get charged for data if you use your phone. To avoid extra charges, connect your phone to Wi-Fi.
Set up Google Messages for web
- On your phone, open Google Messages
. - At the top right, tap your account menu Device Pairing.
- If you get a prompt to sign in with your Google Account, select the account that you want to use with Google Messages and continue.
- On your computer, in a browser, like Chrome or Safari, open Google Messages for web.
- Sign in to Google Messages for web with the same Google Account that you chose on your phone.
- On your phone, you get a dialog in Google Messages with 3 emoji, tap the emoji that matches the one shown on your computer screen.
- Your phone vibrates when the pairing completes and you can find your messages on your computer screen.
- If you don’t have a Google Account, find the option to pair with a QR code.
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Device Pairing.Important:
- Your latest conversation threads, contacts, and other settings will be encrypted and cached on your browser.
- If you don’t use your Google Messages account for a few weeks, you’ll be unpaired automatically for security reasons.
See your messages on the web
When you have unread messages, the Google Messages icon in your browser tab will show a red notification and the number of unread messages.
Tip: You can make Google Messages for web look darker or use high contrast:
- On your computer, click More Enable Dark theme.
Enable Dark theme.Unpair Google Messages for web
Unpairing helps keep other people from seeing your messages and sensitive info, like two factor verification codes or personal details.
On a computer
If you're using Google Messages for web on a shared or public computer, unpair when you're done.
- On your computer, open Google Messages for web.
- At the top left, click the Menu Unpair.
On your Android phone
- On your phone, open Google Messages .
- At the top right, tap your account menu Device Pairing.
- Choose where to unpair:
- Unpair one computer: Next to the computer you want to disconnect, tap Delete Unpair.
- Unpair all computers: Tap Unpair all computers.
- Unpair one computer: Next to the computer you want to disconnect, tap Delete
Check your messages on your Android tablet
You can check your messages from your Android tablet with Google Messages. If you don't have Google Messages on your tablet, you can get it from Google Play.
Important: When you use Google Messages on your tablet, carrier fees apply.
Tips:
- To open Google Messages on your tablet, follow the same steps as outlined above on Set up Google Messages for web.
- If you choose not to pair with your Google Account, the unique QR code for Google Messages pairs the mobile app to your tablet.
- Some tablets with cellular connectivity and a SIM card can send messages without a connection to your phone. This lets your tablet work like a mobile phone.
Related resources
- Get started with Google Messages
- Send and receive text and voice messages in Google Messages
- Send photos, videos, or voice messages in Google Messages
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