Google Messages is rolling out a Trash folder that gives Android users a safety net for accidentally deleted conversations. Previously, deleting a chat in Messages made it disappear instantly with no way to recover it. Now, deleted messages go to a Trash section where they remain for 30 days before permanent deletion.

This feature, first reported by 9to5Google, works similarly to email trash systems. When you delete a conversation, you'll see a new option to 'Move chat to trash.' The Trash folder appears in the Messages account menu alongside Archived and Spam & blocked sections. Inside, you can restore conversations to your inbox or delete them permanently.

Many messaging apps have offered this functionality for years, including Apple's iMessage and various RCS services. Google's Gmail has used a similar 30-day trash system for a long time, making the absence of this feature in Messages increasingly noticeable. For Android users who rely on Messages as their primary SMS and RCS app, this update finally provides the recovery option that many have been missing.