As you may know, Google removed the option to sign in Google Messages with QR Pairing. Now, they force you to do it ONLY with a Google account. People who don’t have and don’t want to create one, or people that just prefer QR pairing can still do it. But with a workaround:

  1. Download (or use) a Google Messages version that still allows QR pairing (like one from January 2026). It can be downloaded from Uptodown store. I tried installing it from an apk directly but it failed.
  2. Open the link: https://messages.google.com/web/authentication
  3. Sign in following the instructions on the screen.

Do it as soon as possible because Google might remove this option soon.

  • Wyb@lemmy.world
    0·
    15 hours ago

    But using this strategy will result in still using google services. Both creating demand by using their app, and using recaptcha, but also providing information by scanning the QR code to finish the handshake.

    Let them keep their QR codes. I’ll be visiting another website.