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Install the Android 5.0 Lollipop Messenger App on KitKat

Oct 21, 2014 08:46 PM

Oct 21, 2014 08:50 PM

Hand holding a smartphone displaying a contact list against a backdrop of green leaves and flowers.

With all of the cool new animations and features in the upcoming Android 5.0 Lollipop release, some pretty awesome system apps may have been overlooked amidst the fanfare. Most noticeably, a new Messenger app was added to the OS, containing many touches of Material Design.

A leaked version of the firmware from the upcoming Nexus 6 included this app, and it can be installed on most devices running Android KitKat (4.4+). Installation doesn't even require root, so if you're ready to check out some of what Lollipop has to offer, you should definitely try this one out.

Enable "Unknown Sources"

To begin, you'll need to be sure that your device is set to allow for installation of apps from outside of the Google Play Store. Head to Settings -> Security, then tick the box next to Unknown Sources and press OK.

Settings menu with options for security, location, apps, and accounts.

Settings menu for security options on a mobile device.

Install the Android 5.0 Lollipop Messenger App on KitKat

Install the New Messenger App

From your Android device, head to this link to grab the installer file for the new Messenger app. Press OK on any file-type warnings, then wait for the file to finish downloading before proceeding.

When that's done, tap the Download Complete notification to launch Android's installer interface. From here, review the app's permissions, then hit Install.

Messenger app installation permissions on Android device.

Messenger app installation confirmation screen.

Set 'Messenger' as Your Default SMS App

In order to use Messenger to send and receive text messages, you'll have to set it as your default SMS app. Tap the three-dot menu button at the top of Messenger's main screen, then select Settings.

Settings menu of a mobile device with messaging options.

Change SMS app settings on a mobile device.

From there, tap the Set as your default SMS app option, then press Yes on the pop-up.

Touring the Features

Messenger has a gorgeous interface, and adds a few new options over the previous stock messaging app. A new Floating Action Button allows you to compose new messages easily from the app's main screen. You can swipe left or right on any message group to archive it, and headers within each message thread attempt to match the recipient's contact photo.

Conversation in a messaging app with chat bubbles displaying text messages.

How are you liking Android's new Material Design so far? Let us know in the comments section below, or drop us a line on Facebook and Twitter.

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.