Pinning a conversation in Google Messages keeps key chats (family, work, delivery updates, 2FA threads) at the top of your inbox so they don’t get buried under new messages. The exact labels may vary slightly by phone brand and app version, but the workflow is consistent.

Before you start

  • Update Google Messages from the Play Store for the latest options and UI.
  • These steps apply to the Messages by Google app (not Samsung Messages or other SMS apps).

How to pin a conversation in Google Messages

  1. Open Google Messages.
  2. From the main conversation list, press and hold the chat you want to pin.
  3. Tap the pin icon (usually shown as a pushpin) in the top action bar.
  4. The conversation will move to the top of your inbox under a pinned section (or simply remain first with a pin marker).

If you don’t see a pin icon

  • After long-pressing the conversation, tap the three-dot menu (⋮) and look for Pin.
  • If you still can’t find it, verify you’re using Messages by Google and that it’s updated.

How to pin multiple conversations

  1. Press and hold one conversation.
  2. Tap additional conversations to select multiple.
  3. Tap the pin icon to pin them together.

Note: Some devices or versions may limit the number of pinned chats. If pinning stops working after a certain number, try unpinning an older one first.

How to unpin a conversation

  1. In your conversation list, press and hold the pinned chat.
  2. Tap the unpin icon (or tap the pin icon again) to remove it from the pinned area.

What pinning does (and doesn’t) do

  • Does: Keeps the conversation at the top of your list for faster access.
  • Doesn’t: Mute notifications, change message delivery, or hide the chat. For less noise, use Mute separately.

Troubleshooting tips

  • Pin option missing: Update the app, then force-close and reopen. If needed, restart your phone.
  • Pinned chat not staying on top: Check whether you’re viewing a filtered inbox (e.g., “Unread” or categories). Switch back to the full conversation list.
  • Using a different messaging app: If your default SMS app isn’t Messages by Google, the pin feature may look different or not exist. Set Google Messages as default in Android settings.

Quick recap

  • Long-press a conversation → tap the pin icon.
  • To unpin: long-press → tap unpin.
  • If the icon isn’t visible, check the ⋮ menu and update the app.