How to automatically delete OTPs in Google Messages

Google Messages is the default SMS app for most Android phones, including even the latest Samsung Galaxy devices. It’s packed full of neat features, including RCS chats and Gemini integration. However, it’s the simple things that can really improve your time using Google Messages. One of those simple, handy features in Google Messages you may not have known about is auto-deletion for one-time passwords (OTPs).

No matter how many passkeys or authentication apps you use, chances are, you still run into two-factor authentication codes often. Those are the usually four or six-digit OTPs that help you sign into an online account or service. They’re used immediately, but continue to clog up your inbox unless you delete them manually. That is, unless you set up Google Messages to trash them automatically using the steps below.

OTPs, and why you’d want to delete them

Google Messages

(Image credit: Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central)

The fact of the matter is, usernames and passwords aren’t enough to keep your online accounts secure. That’s why many online services require two-factor authentication (2FA) for extra security. The best forms of 2FA include unique QR codes or authentication apps, but the far-and-away most common form of 2FA is SMS authentication. In other words, SMS authentication is when you get a text including a code that will help you log in and verify it’s really you.

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