Google Messages beta rolling out QR code key verification

Abner Li | Aug 25 2025 - 12:05 am PT

As previewed last year, Google Messages is beginning to roll out QR code-based key verification to confirm that you’re “communicating with the person you intend to.”

Once available, open a conversation in Google Messages and open the Details page by tapping their name in the app bar. The End-to-end encryption card has been around for some time, but tapping “Verify encryption” previously just opened a page with an 80-digit code.

Now, you get a “Security & privacy” sheet to “Verify keys for this contact.” Google offers an explainer:

Why verify keys? This helps ensure only you and your contact can read the RCS messages you send each other
How to verify keys: Scan the QR code on your contact’s device. Then ask them to scan the QR code on yours.
Verification status: You can see the status for the keys you verified by going to “Connected apps” in the Contacts app

Tapping “Your QR code” opens the “Verification for Google Messages.” As of right now, the aforementioned Google Contacts app integration is not yet live.

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However, the sheet has its own “Scan contact’s QR code” option that opens the Android System Key Verification application that’s already installed on your device.

The old 80-digit option remains available if you tap “Compare verification codes” on the sheet.

We’re seeing this QR code key verification with the latest Google Messages beta. It’s not yet appearing on the stable channel. Google last year said this is coming in 2025 for Android 9+ devices. This “unified system for public key verification” will also be available for third-party apps.