Google Messages widely rolls out quick capture camera icon shortcut for faster photo sharing

Previously, sending photos using Google Messages involved either accessing the conversation and attaching the photo from the “Add” button or capturing the photo separately in the camera app and then selecting it from the conversation. Now, the easy-to-access camera icon lets you start the process of sending a photo from the beginning, if your intent is to capture and send a quick photo instead of forwarding one from the camera roll.

New photo send workflow in Google Messages by using the camera icon shortcut

As you can see in the screenshots above, the camera icon is placed adjacent to the search icon on the top right of the app. Tapping on it, opens the camera app UI and viewfinder, allowing you to capture a quick photo. Once the photo has been taken, Messages then prompts you to select a recipient and attaches the photo in a new message to the chosen recipient — while still giving you the control to add additional text and send at your leisure.

The camera shortcut was previously in a limited rollout phase, with only a small group of Google Messages users having access to it. That said, while the old method was relatively straightforward, this new shortcut strives to make the process even more effortless —  facilitating seamless photo sharing.