[Update: Wider Rollout] Google is rolling out Nearby Share, its file-sharing AirDrop clone for Android 6.0+

Update 1 (08/31/2020 @ 01:20AM ET): Google Nearby Share is rolling out widely. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on August 4, 2020, is preserved below.

Last year, we learned that Google was preparing a new file-sharing service for Android. This file-sharing service was originally called “Fast Share” during early iterations, but Google eventually rebranded it to “Nearby Share” during the course of development. We got an early glimpse of the feature in January, and in late June, Google started testing the service with a handful of users on the latest Google Play Services beta release. Today, Google has announced that they are finally rolling out Nearby Share to millions of Android smartphones running Android 6.0 and above.

For those unaware, Android has never had a simple, fast, and unified way to share files between devices. Until Android 10, most Android devices did have access to Android Beam, a file-sharing service that required users to tap their phones together to initiate a handshake over NFC followed by a file transfer over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct. Android Beam is, however, deprecated, clunkier, and slower than AirDrop, the file-sharing service on iOS that’s been around for years and is used by millions of iPhone and iPad users. AirDrop lets you quickly share files with any fellow iPhone or iPad users that are nearby. There are file-sharing services on Android that are arguably as simple and fast as AirDrop, but they all either require users to either download a third-party app or own a device from a specific smartphone manufacturer. Google is uniquely equipped to roll out a simple, fast, and unified file-sharing service thanks to its control over Google Play Services, which is installed on the vast majority of Android devices sold outside of China regardless of the manufacturer. That’s exactly what Nearby Share is—a simple, fast, and unified file-sharing service for Android.

With Nearby Share, Android users can quickly share files to nearby users with the tap of a button. After tapping the “share” button in an app, users can share file(s) by selecting the “Nearby Share” option. Nearby users will then get a notification that someone wants to share content with them. Users will always have the option to “accept” or “decline” the file, so files are never transferred without explicit confirmation. After tapping “accept”, the file(s) are transferred using the best available communication protocol: Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, WebRTC, or peer-to-peer WiFi. Thus, files can be shared even when the sender and recipient devices are both fully offline.

Google designed this feature with privacy in mind. You can send and receive files anonymously, for example. You can also choose which contacts (all, some, or none) are able to immediately see you when you turn on Nearby Share.

Perhaps the best part of Nearby Share is that Google is making it cross-platform. While we don’t know about iOS compatibility, Google confirmed they’re working to expand the feature to additional platforms. The company confirmed that feature will work with Chromebooks in the coming months. In fact, it’s already available on Chrome OS if you enable a few feature flags. More general OS support, such as Windows, will be available via Google Chrome.

Starting today, select Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy smartphones running Android 6.0 or later will start getting Nearby Share. Since this feature is baked into Google Play Services, it’ll eventually become available for more Android smartphones. Check out this support page for more information on how the feature works.

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Update: Google Nearby Share now rolling out widely

It appears that Google is rolling out Nearby Share more widely. We’ve spotted the feature on several devices now, like the ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro, OnePlus Nord, Nubia Red Magic 5S, and LG Velvet. All of these devices are running Google Play Services 20.30.19 stable. Other users with OnePlus, Xiaomi, Honor, Realme, and Nokia phones have also mentioned that they have received the feature.

To access Nearby Share, go to Settings > Google > Device Connections > Nearby Share, or Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Preferences > Nearby Share (this menu isn’t available on all OS versions and/or OEM skins). If this setting is visible to you, you can also edit your Quick Settings to add the Nearby Share tile.

As the screenshot indicates, number verification appears to be a newly added feature.

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T-Mobile OnePlus 7T, 7T Pro McLaren Edition can now be bootloader unlocked without waiting, 7T rebranding also possible

The bootloader unlocking experience on a T-Mobile-branded OnePlus smartphone is very much different from the unlocked variants. Once you pay off the contract and use the device on the network for at least 40 days, you’re eligible to perform a SIM unlock. After SIM unlocking, you need to generate a unique unlock token to be able to unlock the bootloader. Besides the added complexity of bootloader unlocking, the slower update frequency and the inability to participate in the OxygenOS Open Beta and Developer Preview programs are some of the main reasons why people prefer to “rebrand” their T-Mobile OnePlus phones to international (i.e. non-T-Mobile) firmware. If you have the T-Mobile OnePlus 7T and want to get rid of the carrier firmware, then you’ll be interested in learning that XDA Senior Member Superboy58 has managed to find a way to convert this variant to international without a traditionally unlocked bootloader/SIM unlock.

OnePlus 7T Forums

The trick is to patch the OPS file from the official unbrick package in such a way that the bootloader ignores the token generation part and allows users to unlock it with a standard Fastboot command. As soon as you unlock the bootloader, pick the Fastboot-flashable global firmware for the OnePlus 7T and do a clean flash to complete the rebranding process. Head over to the thread linked below for more instructions.

Rebrand T-Mobile OnePlus 7T to international firmware — XDA Thread

In case you have the T-Mobile OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition, there’s a similar mod to unlock the bootloader without waiting. The only catch is, you can’t rebrand it like the other model. The T-Mobile variant is 5G capable, whereas an international variant of the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G simply does not exist. There is no way you can replace the stock T-Mobile McLaren Edition firmware with another official OxygenOS ROM. You can, however, opt for custom ROMs that are specifically built for this model.

Bootloader unlock T-Mobile OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition without waiting

T-Mobile OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition Forums

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Google Pixel 5, Pixel 4a 5G, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, Galaxy M51, and Nubia Red Magic 5S forums are open

It’s been a busy month for smartphone releases, and there are no signs of that slowing down. After opening up forums for the ZenFone 7, Moto G9, and two new Realme devices, we’re opening up the floodgates for more devices for people to chat about. Our forums for the Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 4a 5G, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, Samsung Galaxy M51, and Nubia Red Magic 5S are all open.

Google Pixel 5

Not long after Google teased the Pixel 5, some big leaks hit the web. In addition to a series of renders, nearly all of the specs of the Google Pixel 5 were revealed, including the battery size, RAM, and more. In other words, there’s not much we don’t know about the Pixel 5, except maybe the price. Google is expected to officially unveil the Pixel 5 towards the beginning of October.

Google Pixel 5 Forums

Alleged Google Pixel 5 CAD render. Source: @OnLeaks/Pricebaba.

Google Pixel 4a 5G

In addition to the Google Pixel 5, Google is also gearing up to introduce the Pixel 4a 5G. The device is expected to be a step up from the Pixel 4a and includes support for 5G which, as you’d expect, will demand a higher price tag. Some of the device’s specs were already unveiled, and there’s even been a leaked picture, so there’s not much else to do but wait for Google to unveil it alongside the Google Pixel 5 in October.

Google Pixel 4a 5G Forums

Alleged Google Pixel 4a 5G CAD render. Source: @OnLeaks/91Mobiles

Samsung Galaxy 20 FE

Samsung has announced the new Galaxy Note 20 series, but the company isn’t done yet with the Galaxy S20 series. The company is allegedly prepping the Galaxy S20 “Fan Edition,” which is expected to feature a tweaked design and support 5G when it launches in the U.S. There are a number of other leaks and rumors about this device, which you can discuss freely in the forums.

Samsung Galaxy 20 FE Forums

Alleged Samsung Galaxy S20 FE press render. Source: Evan Blass

Samsung Galaxy M51

Big batteries have become commonplace in today’s smartphone market, but the Samsung Galaxy M51 will allegedly take it to the next level. Recent reports claim the device, which may include Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon 730 chip, will feature a massive 7,000mAh battery, which should be plenty of juice to last through a day or two.

Samsung Galaxy M51 Forums

Alleged Samsung Galaxy M51 press render. Source: @Sudhanshu1414

Nubia Red Magic 5S

Looking to get your game on? Look no further than the Nubia Red Magic 5S. The gaming smartphone comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chip, 144Hz OLED display, and a triple-camera setup, rounding out what should be a pretty impressive flagship device. And it costs a respectable $579, making it an affordable yet powerful experience all around.

Nubia Red Magic 5S Forums

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Are you looking forward to the Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 4a 5G, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, or Samsung Galaxy M51? Thinking of picking up the Nubia Red Magic 5S? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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BraveDNS is an open-source DNS-over-HTTPS client, firewall, and adblocker for Android

Replacing the factory-installed OS with an aftermarket ROM isn’t just limited to the Android ecosystem. People started modding Linux-powered wireless routers and access points long before the rise of Android smartphones in order to enable functionalities such as packet filtering, firewalls, or adblocking that aren’t otherwise present in the stock firmware. Unsurprisingly, such features are much requested in the world of Android as well. While it is possible to configure Private DNS (or DNS-over-HTTPS) and subsequently block ads on an Android device since Android Pie, end-users still need to rely on third-party apps to set up a proper firewall. If you are looking for an all-in-one app that can act as a firewall, adblocker, and even a DNS-over-HTTPS client, BraveDNS might interest you.

The name “BraveDNS” might sound like yet another DNS resolver service, but it is certainly more than that. This free and open-source app describes itself as “an OpenSnitch-inspired firewall and network monitor + a pi-hole-inspired DNS over HTTPS client with blocklists”. The DoH client module, which is mostly based on another popular open-source project named Intra, uses AdGuard DNS as the default endpoint with built-in adblocking support. The developer team also offers their own DNS resolver service as a paid option for those who need features like custom blocklists, allowlists, the ability to store DNS logs for later analysis, etc.

Below you can find a list of features that are currently offered by the app:

1. DNS over HTTPS (circumvent censorship and prevent surveillance of DNS logs by ISPs and everyone else).
2. View DNS logs.
3. Ad-block through Adguard DNS.
4. Firewall by app categories.
5. Firewall individual apps.
6. Firewall when apps are in the background (not-in-active-use).
7. Firewall when device is locked.

The initial version of BraveDNS requires at least Android Oreo, but the developers have plans to make it compatible all the way down to Android Marshmallow in the near future. Moreover, support for dual-mode DNS and firewall execution is promised to be backported to legacy Android versions.

You can download the BraveDNS app on your device from the Play Store link below, or grab the APK from their official site.

BraveDNS: GitHub Repo ||| XDA Forum Thread

BraveDNS: Fast, private, and safe DNS + Firewall (Free, Google Play) →

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This app uses root access to let you control the ASUS ROG Phone II’s RGB logo

The ASUS ROG Phone II already has a successor for this year, but the 2019 gaming flagship still packs some serious punch. Its powerhouse specifications include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset, up to 12GB of RAM, up to a whopping 1TB of internal storage, a behemoth 6,000 mAh battery, and a buttery smooth 120Hz AMOLED display. The ROG Phone II also has a developer-friendly OEM, which means you can try out plenty of mods and custom ROMs on this smartphone. If you’re running a custom ROM, though, you may have noticed the lack of RGB controls for the ROG Phone II’s “Republic of Gamers” logo. Thankfully, there’s a new app in town with which you can control the RGB illumination, even when you’re running a custom ROM.

ASUS ROG Phone II XDA Forums

XDA Junior Member Terminal_Heat_Sink has developed this app that not only allows you to customize the illumination pattern on the ROG logo on a per-app basis but also gives you the ability to utilize the second LED for notifications. Named “Asus ROG Phone 2 RGB”, the app internally hooks into the RGB driver, which is why root access is a prerequisite for using it. According to the developer, the app does work on the stock ROM as well, but you must upgrade to the official Android 10 firmware to ensure full compatibility.

Below you can find the list of custom animations supported by the app. Note that the color wheel doesn’t work with all of them.

1. None
2. Solid one color
3. Breathing one color
4. Blink
5. Rainbow 1
6. Rainbow 2
7. Rainbow breathe
8. Thunder
9. Thunder rainbow
10. Quick two flashes
11. Quick two flashes rainbow
12. Breathe rainbow 1
13. Breathe rainbow 2
14. Slow glitchy rainbow
15. Yellow light

ASUS ROG Phone II RGB: Download ||| Source Code ||| XDA Discussion Thread

The app is coded in such a way that you don’t have to set up all of the settings for custom notifications each time you reinstall it. There is an option to export all the settings to a file named .terminal_heat_sink.asusrogphone2rgb.xml which you can find at the root of the internal storage. To import, just place the XML file in the same location and use the “Import Settings” wizard inside the app.

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Here are the countries using Google and Apple’s COVID-19 Contact Tracing API

SARS-CoV-2, also known colloquially as just the coronavirus, has wreaked havoc across the world. Many countries shut down large parts of the economy in order to contain the spread of the virus. As countries reopen their economies, many health experts fear a “second wave”, ie. resurgence, of COVID-19. To prevent a second wave, public health experts are advocating that nations adopt contact tracing, ie. tracing all the people who have recently come into contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 and then undertaking steps to isolate those individuals. Contact tracing is difficult to implement correctly without violating an individual’s privacy. The threat to personal privacy was severe enough for Google and Apple to collaborate on an API that developers of public health agencies can use to implement app-based contact tracing solutions. This contact tracing API, which Google and Apple call the Exposure Notification API, is designed to respect user privacy and security.

Once a user downloads an app that uses the Exposure Notification API and opts in to contact tracing, their device starts generating “proximity identifiers” that are changed every 15 minutes (on average). Via Bluetooth Low Energy, these “proximity identifiers” are periodically shared with nearby devices whose users have also opted into contact tracing. The proximity identifier is then processed on-device and does not reveal information about a user’s location or other personally identifiable information. Once a user confirms a positive diagnosis of COVID-19, they can share their diagnosis with the app they installed, which will then inform other users who have come into close contact with them in the last 14 days. For more information on how the Exposure Notification API works, we recommend reading our initial coverage.

Google first rolled out the Exposure Notification API for Android devices on May 20, 2020, as part of an update to Google Play Services, but its use is restricted to apps that have been developed by official public health agencies (for obvious reasons). However, neither Google nor Apple has made details public about the list of apps that have been whitelisted for using this API, so unless you’re constantly keeping up with the news, it’s hard to know which countries have adopted the API. We’ve previously covered some of the countries that have adopted the Exposure Notification API when we talked about the various open-source contact tracing projects that are out there. In this article, we have compiled a list of official contact tracing apps from designated health agencies from various countries that are using Google and Apple’s Exposure Notification API. Our list contains COVID-19 contact tracing apps that have been released or are currently in development.

We discovered Google’s hidden whitelist of application package names for the API. Subsequently, these package names were traced back to apps, their listing, and the countries they belong to. The information is compiled below in a table for easy reference. We have also added Google Play Store and Apple App Store links, if the app has been publicly released, as well as the source code and the official website link, wherever available. We will update the following tables as more countries/regions adopt the API.

Table Changelogs

• June 26, 2020
  • Added: Brazil, Ghana, Ecuador, Spain, Estonia, Egypt, Portugal, Croatia, MIT’s PathCheck SafePlaces
  • Package names updated: Canada, Alabama
• June 29, 2020
  • Updated Ireland’s listing to include the source code
  • Added the name and package name of Spain’s app.
  • Google has updated the package name “eg.nc.moh.bruhealthtrace” to “egnc.moh.bruhealthtrace.” This matches the “BruHealth” contact tracing app from the government of “Brunei.” We have updated the table accordingly.
• June 30, 2020
  • Added Spain’s Radar COVID app
• July 1, 2020
  • Fixed Japan’s listing to reflect that COCOA – COVID-19 Contact App has already been released.
  • Added a separate table for open contact tracing implementations based on Google and Apple’s Exposure Notification API. PathCheck SafePlaces was moved to this table and COVID Shield and Common Circle were added.
• July 6, 2020
  • Ireland’s COVID Tracker app has been released on Google Play and the Apple App Store, so the listing in the table has been updated with links to reflect that.
• July 8, 2020
  • Added: North Ireland, the Netherlands (second app), Finland, and MITRE’s COVID Aware app
• July 15, 2020
  • Added: Arizona, CV Key
  • Updated: New Canadian app, package names for UK apps, Mexican app, updated Ghana –> Gibraltar
• July 22, 2020
  • Added: Nevada (?) pending verification
• August 5, 2020
  • Added: Belgium (In-Development), New York (In-Development)
  • Updated: Virginia (Released), North Dakota (In-Development), Canada (Released), Croatia (Released), Ecuador (Released), Northern Ireland (Released)
• August 10, 2020
  • Added: Slovenia, Arizona, South Africa (?) pending verification
  • Re-verified that released apps are using COVID-19 ENS.
• August 13, 2020
  • Updated: United Kingdom (Released)
• August 24, 2020
  • Added: Czech Republic (In-Development), Michigan (In-Development), North Carolina (In-Development), Pennsylvania (In-Development), Scotland (In-Development), Kazakhstan (In-Development)
  • Updated: Spain (now using ENS), Estonia (Released), Netherlands (Released), Slovenia (Released), Alabama (Released), Nevada (Released), North Dakota & Wyoming (Released)
• August 28, 2020
  • Added: Guam (Released)
  • Updated: Portugal (Released), South Africa (Released)

Regions with COVID-19 contact tracing apps based on the Exposure Notifications System (ENS)

Region	App Name	Android Package Name	Status	Useful Links
Australia	COVIDTrace	au.gov.dta.covidtrace	In-Development	–
Austria	Stopp Corona	at.roteskreuz.stopcorona	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Source Code Website
Belgium	–	be.sciensano.coronalert	In-Development	–
Brazil	Coronavirus – SUS	br.gov.datasus.guardioes	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store
Brunei	BruHealth	egnc.moh.bruhealthtrace	Testing ENS	Google Play Store Apple App Store Website
Canada	COVID Alert	ca.gc.hcsc.canada.stopcovid	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Source Code Website
Croatia	Stop COVID-19	hr.miz.evidencijakontakata	Released	Google Play Store Source Code
Czech Republic	eRouška	cz.covid19cz.erouska.dev	In-Development	Source Code
Denmark	Smittestop	com.netcompany.smittestop_exposure_notification	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Website
Ecuador	ASI	ec.gob.asi.android	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store
Estonia	Hoia	ee.tehik.hoia	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Website
Finland	Koronavilkku	fi.thl.koronahaavi	In-Development	–
Germany	Corona-Warn-App	de.rki.coronawarnapp	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Source Code Website
Gibraltar	Beat Covid Gibraltar	com.gha.covid.tracker	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Website
Guam	Guam Covid Alert	org.pathcheck.guam.bt	Released	Google Play Store Website
Ireland	Covid Tracker	com.covidtracker.hse	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Source Code Website
Italy	Immuni	it.ministerodellasalute.immuni	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Source Code Website
Japan	COCOA – COVID-19 Contact App	jp.go.mhlw.covid19radar	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Source Code Website
Kazakhstan	eGov bizbirgemiz	kz.nitec.bizbirgemiz	In-Development	Website
Kenya	–	ke.go.health_togethertrace	In-Development	–
Latvia	Apturi Covid Latvia	lv.spkc.gov.apturicovid	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Website
Malta?	–	mt.gov.dp3t	In-Development	–
Mexico	COVID-19MX	mx.gob.www	Testing ENS	Google Play Store Apple App Store Website
Netherlands	CoronaMelder	nl.rijksoverheid.en	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Website Source Code
Northern Ireland	StopCOVID NI	net.hscni.covidtracker	Released	Google Play Store Source Code
Philippines	StaySafe PH	ph.staysafe.mobileapp	Testing ENS	Google Play Store Apple App Store Website
Poland	ProteGO Safe	pl.gov.mc.protegosafe	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Source Code Website
Portugal	STAYAWAY COVID	fct.inesctec.stayaway	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Source Code Website
Saudi Arabia	Tabaud	sa.gov.nic.tabaud	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Website
Scotland	–	gov.scot.covidtracker	In-Development	–
Slovenia	OstaniZdrav	si.gov.ostanizdrav	Released	Google Play Store Website
South Africa	COVIDConnect	za.gov.health.covidconnect	Released	Google Play Store Website
Spain	Radar COVID	es.gob.radarcovid	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store
Switzerland	SwissCovid	ch.admin.bag.dp3t	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Source Code Website
United Kingdom	NHS COVID-19	uk.nhs.covid19.production	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Source Code Website
Uruguay	Coronavirus UY	uy.gub.salud.plancovid19uy	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Source Code Website
USA – Alabama	GuideSafe	gov.adph.exposurenotifications	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Website
USA – Arizona	Covid Watch	gov.azdhs.covidwatch.android	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Source Code Website
USA – Michigan	–	gov.michigan.MiCovidExposure	In-Development	–
USA – Nevada	Covid Trace Nevada	gov.nv.dhhs.en	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Website
USA – New York	–	gov.ny.health.proximity	In-Development	–
USA – North Carolina	–	gov.nc.dhhs.exposurenotification	In-Development	–
USA – Pennsylvania	–	gov.pa.covidtracker	In-Development	–
USA – North Dakota & Wyoming	Care19 Alert	com.proudcrowd.exposure	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Website
USA – South Carolina	–	–	In-Development	–
USA – Virginia	COVIDWise	gov.vdh.exposurenotification	Released	Google Play Store Apple App Store Website

Note: A ? next to the region means we are unsure which region this app is being developed for.

Open COVID-19 contact tracing implementations based on the Exposure Notification API

Parties	App Name	Android Package Name	Status	Useful Links
CVKey Project	CVKey	org.cvkey.cvkey	Testing ENS	Google Play Store Website
MIT	PathCheck SafePlaces	org.pathcheck.covidsafepathsbt.mn	Testing ENS	Google Play Store Apple App Store Source Code Website
MITRE Corporation	COVID Aware	org.mitre.covidaware	In-Development	Website
Shopify Volunteers	COVID Shield	app.covidshield	In-Development	Source Code Website
University of Washington School of Medicine	Common Circle	edu.uw.commoncircle.research edu.uw.commoncircle.exposures	In-Development In-Development	Source Code Website –

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Thanks to PNF Software for providing us a license to use JEB Decompiler, a professional-grade reverse engineering tool for Android applications.

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Google deprecates its App Preview Messaging feature occasionally used by Photos and Duo

When Google introduced Allo in 2016, the company also detailed a feature for developers of messaging apps known as App Preview Messaging. This feature was aimed at allowing users to send a message from their favorite messaging app to any contact in their phonebook (provided both the sender and the recipient are using an Android device), even if the recipient of the message doesn’t have the app installed. So, say you try starting a Duo video chat with a friend. If your friend doesn’t have Duo installed on their Android phone, they’d get a notification prompting them to download it thanks to App Preview Messaging. The feature is even set up to give users the ability to reply to the message without installing the app! Google employed this feature in Allo (which no longer exists), Duo, and Photos to get people to sign up for these services.

Unfortunately, the feature seems to have fallen by the wayside, never graduating from early access despite Google’s promises to open it up. It’s unclear if any non-Google app ever used the feature in the first place. Regardless, Google recently updated the developer documentation for App Preview Messaging to announce that the early access program has ended and the feature is being deprecated (via AndroidPolice). The page now says that, “as of Q3 2020, this program is complete, and users can no longer send messages with App Preview Messaging.”

Users have always been able to turn off App Preview Messaging in Settings > Google > Data & messaging or block these notifications entirely. Now that the early access period is complete, though, these user settings will be removed from Google Play Services. Google recommends developers turn to Business Messages as an alternative.

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