Why This Matters
GrapheneOS has shipped version 13 of its Messages app, a full rewrite that swaps the legacy interface for Jetpack Compose and Material 3 while rebuilding every screen. Beyond the visual refresh, it adds modern conversation management features (pinning, snoozing, archiving, multi-select) plus tablet-friendly two-pane layouts, and fixes crash, notification, security, and message-handling bugs. It signals that privacy-focused Android alternatives are closing the usability gap with mainstream Google apps.
Key Takeaways
- Version 13 is a ground-up rewrite using Jetpack Compose and Material 3, with a two-pane layout for large screens and new onboarding covering SMS privacy and permissions.
- Conversation management catches up to mainstream messaging apps: pinning, snoozing, mark-as-unread, swipe-to-archive, and redesigned multi-select and recipient pickers.
- Security and reliability hardening is part of the release, including crash and notification fixes, blocked-sender handling, blocking emergency-number dialing from conversations, and using the system default SIM for fallback.
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Notable changes in version 13:
Version 13 replaces the legacy interface with Jetpack Compose and Material 3. It rebuilds every screen, adds new conversation controls and large-screen support, and fixes problems with crashes, notifications, security, and message handling.
Interface
Material 3 / Expressive design with shapes
Two-pane conversation layout on large screens
New adaptive app icon with a monochrome variant
New onboarding covering SMS privacy, permissions, and default-app setup
Correct display cutout and system bar handling in both orientations
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