The iOS 26 beta brings chat backgrounds to Messages, giving a visual identifier for each chat so you can easily tell if you're messaging the right person or group. It's a nice quality-of-life update that can help you distinguish whether you're texting your family chat or your family chat minus your one uncle you don't get along with.
Apple released the first public beta of iOS 26 on July 24, and that beta brought a new Liquid Glass design and other new features to the iPhones of developers and beta testers. The beta also brought a host of changes to Messages, including adding backgrounds to chats with saved contacts.
Here's how to change a chat background in Messages with iOS 26.
Don't forget, iOS 26 is still in beta. That means the update might be buggy for you, and your device's battery life may be affected, so it's best to keep those troubles off your primary device. If you want to test the beta, I recommend downloading it on a secondary device.
It's also possible that Apple will adjust chat backgrounds and other update features before the final version of iOS 26 is released this fall.
How to add and change a chat background in Messages
1. Open Messages.
2. Tap into a chat with a saved contact.
3. Tap either the person's or group's name near the top of the chat.
4. Tap Backgrounds.
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