A recent Google Messages bug is causing issues with the group chat feature, preventing many users from seeing their messages. This bug is splitting group chats into separate threads, resulting in duplicate conversations with the same participants.
When a new message is sent, it may only appear in the duplicated thread, and deleting that thread doesn’t solve the problem. Instead, more clones will likely pop up every time someone tries to send another text in the chat.
Google is aware of the issue, as confirmed by an official customer support representative on Reddit. Engineers at Google are reportedly working to remedy the bug, but it’s unclear when a fix will be available, as the problem has been around for months.
The exact cause of the bug is still unknown, but some users are speculating about possible solutions. One Reddit user suggested that the issue might be related to a sync error between the contact list on Samsung devices and the Google Messages app.
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This user recommends deleting any contact cards saved for other participants in the group chat, which has allegedly fixed the “splitting thread” issue for some people. However, if this method doesn’t work, users may have to wait for Google to roll out a fix.
Moving the conversation to a different messaging app isn’t a viable option, as Samsung Messages is discontinued, and carrier-specific messaging apps are no longer available. Many users miss features from Samsung Messages, but most of all, they miss having an app without longstanding group chat bugs and other issues.
It’s worth considering that Google’s efforts to improve group chat functionality in 2026 may have inadvertently led to this bug. As the company works to fix the issue, users are left to deal with the frustrating consequences of duplicate conversations and missing messages.
For now, users are left with few options but to wait for a fix or try the suggested workaround. The fact that this bug has been around for months is a concern, and users are eager for a solution.
