How To Get Google’s iMessage Extension On Your Phone

Google’s new iMessage extensions allow iPhone users to drop all sorts of Google-curated information into their chats: from weather forecasts and nearby restaurants to trending YouTube videos and amusing GIFs. It’s a much faster way to communicate and one of our favourite extensions in a long while. Here’s how to get it on your phone right now.

The Google app’s iMessage extension works in different ways depending on what you share. For example, when a recipient taps on a video, it will automatically appear on a new screen and start playing. When they click on a restaurant name, they will see a Google search results page for it. Tapping on a GIF fills the screen with the image and so on and so forth.

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/03/the-google-apps-new-imessage-extension-is-pretty-great/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/ajimsghmh361vxkjib0w.jpg” title=”The Google App’s New iMessage Extension Is Pretty Great ” excerpt=”iOS. Google announced a big new update to its iOS app yesterday. If you only interact with Google on your iPhone by typing search queries into your browser’s address bar, the concept of installing a standalone “Google” app might feel a little weird. Don’t worry about it.”]

If you’re a regular iMessage user, this is an incredibly useful tool to have up your sleeve. Best of all, it only takes a few seconds to set up.

Here’s how to get it on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Download the Google app from the Apple Store. (If you already have it on your phone, make sure you’ve got the latest version.)
2. Open iMessage and fire up a conversation. You should now see a big, colourful “G” at the bottom of your iPhone’s screen.
3. Tap it to start dropping information, vidoes and GIFs into your chats!

That’s literally all there is to it.

If you don’t like the idea of having a ‘Google’ app on your phone, simply bury it deep in an iPhone folder. You can then safely ignore it while still having access to this powerful and user-friendly iMessage tool. Result!

For more Google/iOS goodness, check out our complete guide to adding the best Android apps to your iPhone.

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2015/11/how-to-get-a-perfect-all-google-experience-on-the-iphone/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/1504842144844362413.jpg” title=”How To Get A Perfect All-Google Experience On The iPhone” excerpt=”Apple makes a great operating system and a solid phone, but some of their apps leave a little to be desired — especially the disaster that is iCloud. I’ve replaced all my usual tools with Google apps, and even on iOS, it’s a remarkably seamless experience.”]