Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Change Bubble and Background Style in Messaging App

Sending a message is one of the most common used method by most of phone's users to communicate with others. That's why, no wonder if Samsung Galaxy SIV has provided the stock Messaging app to facilitate their users when they want sending a message. As other apps, Messaging app also has some settings which will allow you to customize it according to your need. For instance, you can set the desired message tone for incoming message.

See also: How to Change Message Tone in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Aside from selecting message tone, you can also customize the display of thread in the Messaging app. You can change bubble's shape/color for incoming and outgoing message as well as change the background image of message thread.


How to change bubble style in Messaging app?
Below are the steps to do so:
  1. Open Messaging app.
  2. Tap the Menu key then select Settings.
  3. Scroll down to find Display section.
  4. Tap Bubble style.
  5. You'll see some Samsung-provided bubble styles in the bottom of the screen.
  6. Select a bubble style you wish to use for incoming message and outgoing message.
  7. Tap Save button.
  8. The selected bubble style will be applied in the Messaging app.


How to change background style in Messaging app?
This step will change the background of a thread, not the background of the Messaging app's main page. Well, here are the steps:
  1. Open Messaging app.
  2. Tap the Menu key then select Settings.
  3. Scroll down to find Display section.
  4. Tap Background style.
  5. You'll see an Add background style icon and some Samsung-provided background styles at the bottom of the screen. To use Samsung-provided background style go to the step #6, to use a picture from the Gallery app as background style go to the step #7, while to use a picture taken by the camera as background style go to the step #8.
  6. Use Samsung-provided background style:
    • Tap the desired Samsung-provided background style you wish to use.
    • The selected background style will be applied in the Messaging app.
  7. Use a picture from Gallery app:
    • Tap Add background style icon.
    • Tap Image.
    • Select the desired picture in the Gallery app you wish to use.
    • If necessary, you can change which part of the picture you wish to crop.
    • Tap Save button.
    • The selected picture will be applied as background style.
    • Tap Save button
  8. Use a picture taken by the camera:
    • Tap Add background style icon.
    • Tap Take picture.
    • Now, take a picture by tapping the camera icon.
    • Tap Save button to save the picture.
    • If necessary, you can change which part of the picture you wish to crop.
    • Tap Save button.
    • The selected picture will be applied as background style.
    • Tap Save button.

By knowing how to change bubble and background style in the Messaging app, now you can customize and make it different by touching it with your personal taste.
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27 comments:

  1. Unknown24 March 2014 at 19:43

    I was trying to change my background style on my messenger but after i selected the photo, cropped, and saved it, the picture would not show up or save. I tried taking a photo on the camera and that worked. Could you help me please?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan27 March 2014 at 19:19

      Hi Megan Vang,
      Thanks for coming.
      It's so weird. Did it happen with certain picture or all pictures? I've tried to duplicate your issue and I have not experience any problem. Anyway, you can try to clear cache and data of the Messaging app(it won't delete your message). Once done, try to change the background using picture from Gallery.

      Delete
    2. Unknown23 January 2017 at 12:26

      I'm having the same issue.

      Delete
  2. HELLO WORLD.19 April 2014 at 16:52

    How do you delete the picture you've chosen for the background style? I chose a picture but I was not satisfied with it, and now it bothers me that I cannot delete it from that little gallery of background style at the bottom. Please help me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan19 April 2014 at 21:41

      Hi Buddy,
      Thanks for coming.
      When you choose/add other picture as the background(see the step #7 or #8 under how to change background style), then the newly added picture will replace the old one.

      Delete
  3. Unknown23 April 2014 at 09:35

    i have the same problem as Megan Vang how do i fix the problem

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan23 April 2014 at 15:14

      Hi Bonnye Mire,
      Thanks for coming.
      Have you ever managed to change the Messaging app background style with the same method in the past? However, can you please tell me what's your model number and Android version? FYI, I've tested these steps in my GT-I9500 with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and Android 4.4 Kitkat and it worked.

      Delete
  4. Unknown27 April 2014 at 20:04

    I want to set certain backgrounds for certain contacts. Is that possible? It's okay if not :) Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan27 April 2014 at 20:40

      Hi Mark Colomba,
      Thanks for coming.
      Unfortunately, if you use the stock Messaging app, the background style will be applied for all conversations/contacts. But, if you want to be able to set different background style in the different conversation then you can try to use third-party Messaging app called Handcent SMS app (here's the link:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.handcent.nextsms) that you can get from the Play Store. I've just tested the Handcent SMS app and it allows me to set different background for each conversation/contact.
      Hope it helps :)

      Delete
  5. Unknown30 April 2014 at 09:36

    Is there a way you can download different themes and such for the stock messaging app?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan30 April 2014 at 12:40

      Hi Laura Roberson,
      Thanks for coming.
      CMIIW, you're only allowed to change the stock Messaging app bubble and background image to personalize it. If you don't mind, you can try to use another third-party Messaging app that will let you to change its theme(e.g: Go SMS Pro app).

      Delete
  6. Unknown5 May 2014 at 08:27

    The same thing is happening to me with my messaging backgrounds. It's starting to annoy me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan5 May 2014 at 19:07

      Hi Sunny Williams,
      Thanks for coming.
      Can you please tell me more detail about your problem? Did you receive any error message or notification associated with your problem? Have you tried to clear the Messaging app cache?

      Delete
  7. Unknown5 May 2014 at 19:39

    I stopped being able to send any sms messages then after turning off my phone and resetting the message defaults it that glitch but then it wouldn't let me change my background on my messaging.
    What worked for me was just closing out all my open apps and waiting a few min then it seemed to be working fine.
    I just got my s4 a week ago and I like it but I have ran into a few problems with it already

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan5 May 2014 at 20:05

      Hi Sunny Williams,
      So, you're only able to send sms after closing all of active apps? If so, make sure you have enough free space on your phone to make your phone works well. Also, try to clear cache and clear data of the Messaging app through the application manager.
      If it didn't help, try to go to Settings> tap "More" tab> tap "Application manager"> under the Downloaded tab, tap the Menu key and then select "Reset app preferences". Once done restart the phone and then try to send sms and/or change the background in the Messaging app.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous7 July 2014 at 10:53

    Having the same problem, I have cleared the cache and the data and it still will not let me change it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan7 July 2014 at 23:42

      Hi Hannah Flower,
      Thanks for coming.
      Have you tried to perform reset app preferences?
      If you haven't, then try to do this first and then see whether it helps. You can see the complete steps to reset app preferences within my reply in the Sunny Williams' comment.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8 July 2014 at 04:40

      It didn't work.
      I tried to reply to the comment about the changing the background, I don't know if it came up that way. Having the same problem as Megan Vang.
      Any other suggestions? I don't want to factory reset my phone. Even clearing the app preferences I was very hesitant to because it is annoying to have to put everything back to how you want it.

      Delete
    3. Rehan11 July 2014 at 21:07

      Hi Hannah Flower,
      Thanks for coming back here.
      Actually, I want to suggest you to perform wipe cache partition from the recovery mode. But, seems you won't want to do it. So, I think the best bid is by using third-party Messaging apps that has the ability to change the background image (e.g: Go SMS pro).

      Delete
    4. Unknown17 September 2014 at 21:54

      What does the Wipe Cache partition do to the mobile device

      Delete
    5. Rehan18 September 2014 at 19:17

      Hi Shayne S,
      Thanks for coming.
      Wipe cache partition will wipe caches(CMIIW, some caches can be corrupted and it can cause the phone not work properly.) stored by the Android system and let the system caches the new data once it detects that the old caches have been deleted. Wipe partition cache can also free up some memory though not to much.

      Delete
  9. Unknown7 September 2014 at 02:52

    Is there a way to get new bubble styles on the S4. All the ones that come with the phone are ugly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan7 September 2014 at 19:56

      Hi Chris Holz,
      Thanks for coming.
      If we talk about the stock Messaging app and unrooted device, I think there's no way to get more bubbles since there's no option to do so.

      Delete
  10. Unknown6 February 2015 at 18:36

    Hello, im having the same problem as Megan. The only custom pic I can switch to is one that I take with my camera and I have tried almost every single pic in my phone (I've literally tried 283 pics) and none of them work unless its from the camera. I did clear the cache and that didn't work either.please help me. Thanks for your time.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Unknown10 April 2015 at 11:43

    I'm also having the same problem. I haven't had any problem changing the background in the past, but now I can only do it with pictures taken with the camera. I have cleared my cache and data and nothing works. Has anyone come up with a solution yet?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ada5 December 2015 at 02:54

    Hi, how can I customize messaging display and background in S4 when I don't have this option in messaging settings?
    Samsung i9505 Galaxy S4, Android 4.3.1, 10.2.1-jfltexx CyanogenMod version

    ReplyDelete
  13. Unknown19 February 2016 at 06:17

    When I text someone their reply comes in before my text. Is this fixable? It's very confusing when trying to have a conversation

    ReplyDelete

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Before submitting your comment to ask about an issue, please make sure to provide information as much as possible (at least write your model number and Android version) and describe the problem clearly.
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