Google Messages Beta Bug Causes Magic Compose Button to Vanish for Some Users

Summary

• A bug in the latest Google Messages beta (version 20250119_01_RC00) is causing the Magic Compose button, which offers AI-generated suggested replies, to disappear for certain users.
• This issue impacts only beta users; stable Google Messages users remain unaffected.
• Beta users can either roll back to a previous app version or wait for an upcoming fix.

Google’s Gemini AI is now deeply integrated into various apps and services like Google Docs, Gmail, Sheets, Meet, Chat, and more. For many, these AI-powered features have become vital tools for streamlining workflows. So when a key AI feature suddenly stops working, it can disrupt users’ routines.

This is precisely the case with the generative AI-powered Magic Compose feature in Google Messages, which helps users craft context-aware, AI-generated replies and even stylizes their messages.

Magic Compose first launched in May 2023 and, while initially available to beta users, has since been rolled out to more users. The feature generates suggested replies based on ongoing conversations and also offers stylistic adjustments to messages you type. However, in the latest Google Messages beta version 20250119_01_RC00, the dedicated Magic Compose button has disappeared for some users, as reported by 9to5Google.

While the Magic Rewrite function—which shares the same button—can still be accessed via the plus menu, the suggested replies feature appears to be broken. This bug has left beta users without a core part of the AI integration they’ve come to rely on in Google Messages.

Is It Déjà Vu?

For stable Google Messages users, there’s no cause for concern, as they are unaffected by this issue. Beta users, however, have limited options:

1. Roll back to a previous version of the app if Magic Compose is a crucial feature.
2. Wait for Google to roll out a fix in a future update.

Interestingly, the Magic Compose toggle still appears in the app’s Settings → Suggestions, suggesting that this is likely a bug rather than an intentional removal of the feature. It’s expected that the button will return in a subsequent update.

This isn’t the first time Magic Compose has disappeared, and it probably won’t be the last. It’s a reminder that app betas are inherently unstable and prone to occasional bugs—especially for experimental features like this one.

via