Google Messages adds ‘Tap to Draft’ for safer smart replies

Google has begun rolling out a new behavior for Smart Replies in its Messages app that gives users a crucial extra step before a reply is sent — a change that could save many Android users from an all-too-familiar moment of embarrassment. As reported by 9to5Goole, the new feature, called “Tap to draft,” changes what happens when you tap one of the AI-suggested reply chips that appear above the compose field. Rather than immediately dispatching the message to your contact, the selected reply is now placed into the text box as a draft, where you can review it, edit it, or simply confirm before hitting send.

Previously, tapping a Smart Reply sent it instantly — a design choice that led some users to disable the feature entirely just to avoid misfires. The new behavior closes that gap by enforcing a deliberate send action.