Quick Links

• Communicate Across Languages With Live Translation

• Filter Messages From Unknown Senders

• Custom Backgrounds Add Personality to Messages

• Make Decisions or Organize Plans With Polls

• Settle Bills With Apple Cash Integration

• See Who's Typing With Chat Indicators

With iOS 26, Apple is introducing a variety of useful features to its native messaging app, Messages. Later this year, iPhone users will be able to translate texts directly within the Messages app, filter messages from unknown sources, apply custom backgrounds to the messaging interface, and see when someone is typing in a group chat.

Communicate Across Languages With Live Translation

The most significant update coming to Apple Messages is Live Translation, an Apple Intelligence feature powered by on-device language models (ensuring complete privacy for conversations). This feature is also available in Apple's FaceTime (via live captions) and Phone (speech-based translation) apps.

In Messages, Live Translation allows you to type a message in your own language, which is then delivered to the recipient in their preferred language, removing the need to switch out of the app and use external translation tools. Integrated seamlessly into the native messaging app, this feature eliminates language barriers by enabling real-time communication.

According to Apple, the app translates messages as you type them, and when you receive a response in another language, it can instantly translate that into your language. Both the original and translated versions appear in the same message bubble (divided by a horizontal line), preventing any confusion.

Currently, the feature supports 10 languages: English (US), English (UK), Simplified Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. Since the feature works offline, users must download the necessary language packs.

Set to arrive later this year with the iOS 26 update, Live Translation should help users communicate with friends or family living abroad who speak different languages, interact with locals while traveling, or coordinate business communications with international colleagues or clients—all within the familiar interface of Apple Messages.

Filter Messages From Unknown Senders

iOS 26 will also introduce a new filtering tool that separates messages from unknown senders (those not saved in your contacts) and automatically sends them to a dedicated unknown sender folder. This helps keep the main inbox clean by ensuring only important messages remain visible.

Furthermore, iOS 26 won't notify users when a message arrives from an unknown sender, reducing unwanted interruptions caused by advertisements, automated messages (like one-time passwords and subscription reminders), and other spam.

If you believe a number has been mistakenly placed in the unknown senders folder, you can mark it as known (or add it to your contacts), after which notifications will resume. The folder also lets you request more details about a message or delete it entirely, giving you full control over how to handle each message.

Custom Backgrounds Add Personality to Messages

Taking inspiration from popular online messaging apps, Apple Messages will finally allow users to customize chat backgrounds. While Apple isn't the first to implement such a feature, the company has added a unique twist by incorporating Apple Intelligence.

Although some pre-designed backgrounds are available, users can generate new ones using the Image Playground API—Apple’s internal text-to-image generator—or choose an image from their photo gallery as a background.

To set a custom background in Messages, open the desired chat, tap the recipient's profile picture at the top, and select the Backgrounds tab. There, you’ll find all the available options for customization. This feature adds flair to what was previously a plain (and somewhat dull) interface in Apple's native messaging app.

Make Decisions or Organize Plans With Polls

Alongside chat backgrounds, users can now create polls—a feature already found in third-party platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram.

As the name implies, the feature enables you to gather opinions for group plans. When iOS 26 launches, you'll be able to create polls with movie titles, vacation dates, destination choices, and more.

To start a poll, tap the plus icon located at the bottom left corner (within a group chat) and choose Polls. Enter the poll title in the "Add comment or Send" field, then list the options as choices. Once ready, tap the send button.

This action creates the poll instantly and displays it prominently in the group chat. As participants vote, you’ll see updates in real time. Additionally, Apple Intelligence will recognize situations where creating a poll might be helpful and suggest it accordingly.

I think this is a great addition. Like the others, the polls feature helps close the gap between third-party apps and Apple's native messaging experience.

Settle Bills With Apple Cash Integration

While the polls feature can help organize group plans, Apple Cash integration now makes it easier to settle them. The feature enables users to send, request, and receive Apple Cash from within group chats (and vice versa).

When someone initiates a payment request in a Messages group, it appears as a black tile featuring Apple Cash in the top-left corner, the amount owed in the center, and a "Pay" button toward the bottom. Tapping on it allows you to settle the payment quickly.

As someone who often covers group expenses, I can see this Apple Cash integration becoming very popular. It will not only simplify splitting restaurant bills but also assist in collecting money for group events (like concerts or movies), sharing household costs, or managing travel budgets.

See Who's Typing With Chat Indicators

Finally, Apple is extending typing indicators—already common in one-on-one chats—to group conversations. Although it may seem minor, this addition should reduce confusion and overlapping responses in active groups by showing who is currently typing and helping manage expectations for replies.

Beyond Apple Messages, iOS 26 will also bring major changes to CarPlay this fall. Want to know why Apple shifted from numbers to years with iOS 26? Read more about it here.

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