Here's What's New in Messages on iOS 26: Polls, Backgrounds, and More

Apple today announced several new features coming to the Messages app with iOS 26, which is available in beta starting today and will be released later this year.

General Apps Messages Redux
iOS 26 allows users to set custom backgrounds in conversations, and it introduces the ability to create polls for voting.

In the Messages app, users can now screen messages from unknown senders. Apple says messages from unknown senders will appear in a dedicated folder, where users can mark the phone number as known, ask for more information, or delete it. These messages will remain silenced until a user accepts them.

iOS 26 Messages Backgrounds
iOS 26 Messages Polls
In group chats, users can now see typing indicators, plus send and receive Apple Cash.

iOS 26 Group Chat Messages Typing Indicators
A new Live Translation feature in the Messages app, powered by Apple Intelligence, can translate text and audio on the fly.

iOS 26 Messages Live Translate
Read our overall iOS 26 announcement post to learn more about the update.

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Top Rated Comments

davebarnes Avatar
12 weeks ago
How about using AI to automatically reject all political texts? All candidates. All political fund raising.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Pudlo Avatar
12 weeks ago
new backgrounds?!! guys this is so amazing! I was waiting years for this! life will never be the same again!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleTO Avatar
12 weeks ago
I hope we can disable backgrounds if we don’t want to see them.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TimFL1 Avatar
12 weeks ago

Where is the updated RCS?
Hope it‘s in the full feature list (UP 3.0).

Can‘t believe group chat typing indicators is the most exciting addition they showcased for Messages.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dkh587 Avatar
12 weeks ago

Where is the updated RCS?
that would’ve been more exciting than most of what they announced for Messages
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
applefan8254 Avatar
12 weeks ago
Can we get a web based cross platform messages app that works across more platforms and devices? Thank you
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)