Google Messages: Set custom contact photos, replacing profile sharing

Google Messages has introduced a new feature allowing users to set their own photos for contacts, replacing the previously used profile-sharing feature. 

Profile sharing, which displayed a contact’s Google Account image across first-party apps, removed the customisation options for user-set contact photos. Now, Google Messages lets users revert to their original contact pictures stored in Google Contacts.

To set your custom photo, click on the contact’s name or profile picture in a conversation to open the Details page. From there, tap the small circular photo at the top to switch between the Google profile picture and the contact’s personalised image.

A “Manage in the Contacts app” shortcut is also available. After selecting your desired photo, tap “Set as chat picture” to update it throughout Google Messages.

This feature is now available in both the beta and stable versions (20241120) of Google Messages. By swiping left or right on the details page, users can choose between displaying a contact’s shared profile picture or a locally set contact image.

This update, which started rolling out over the past month, restores the ability to customise contact images, improving control over how contacts appear in conversations.