What users hate. Clustered.

1- and 2-star reviews grouped into themes with verbatim examples. Each cluster is a wedge a competitor could exploit.

• Forced App Updates Break Access for Older Devices

  Users with older iOS devices (iPhone 6s, 7, 7 Plus, iPad) report being unable to use the app due to mandatory updates requiring iOS 16 or later, which their devices cannot support.

  34

  reviews
  • “I can’t use the app on my phone any more pls do that even though it’s for a month”
  • “My iPad is too old. I have the app, but it won’t show me my messages because it tells me to update the app. WELL I CANT!”
  • “I used to be able to use this app to text my friends but because of the new update, I can’t use it, it says to update google chat but when I tried updating it, it said I need IOS 16 or later, but I have IOS 15.8.5 now I can’t even text my f”
• App Crashes and Freezes After Updates

  Multiple users report that after recent updates, the app crashes, freezes, fails to load, or becomes unresponsive, often requiring uninstall/reinstall to regain functionality.

  28

  reviews
  • “After the update the app just won’t load anymore”
  • “Last update killed it. Was great for work (and it’s mandatory for us) and the last update killed it. Blank screen. Logging out doesn’t help. Reinstalling it now hoping that’ll fix the issue”
  • “The message I keep getting is no connection. This has been going on for close to a week.”
• Broken Core Messaging Features (Send, Receive, Load)

  Critical messaging functions like sending messages, receiving messages, loading chats, or viewing conversations are failing or inconsistent across devices.

  25

  reviews
  • “My messages aren't loading — I have a (1) red number notification in the corner of my Google Chat app logo and when I open the app the messages won’t load, all I see is the buffering circle! Very frustrating.”
  • “When i text someone the text doesn’t appear on their screen”
  • “Messages not loading — Latest update not working. Downloaded app and messages didn’t load. I use this app everyday for work. Not good.”
• Threads Feature Causes Confusion and Frustration

  Users criticize the new thread system as poorly implemented, overly intrusive, hard to manage, and lacking toggle options, especially for non-tech-savvy users.

  19

  reviews
  • “The threads feature is awful — We have used GChat for decades but the threads feature is really, really terrible. It confuses my MIL all the time and she responds in random threads frequently.”
  • “Hate the threads — I hate the update!! I hate having 100 threads! It makes it hard to find the original chat group! Please please please make an option to not see the threads!!”
  • “New features should have toggles — Recent update forced the thread feature on chats and the trigger is a single tap. It keeps creating chats because its too easy to accidentally tap a message.”
• Search Functionality Completely Broken

  Users report that the search function no longer works, returning 'no results' even when messages exist, severely impacting usability.

  14

  reviews
  • “Search doesn’t work anymore — I don’t know how your developers managed to break the search function completely. I’ve tried deleting and installing the app again. Still broken.”
  • “Search function no longer works — As of the most recent update, the search function no longer works. I tried search a keyword that I know some of my chats have, and it told me "No results found"”
  • “Please fix your feature to “search in chat” AKA searching up specific things said from who and when. It used to work but after the new updates on mobile all it says no matter what I put on the search bar it just says "No matche"”
• Poor File and Media Handling (Upload, Download, Send)

  Users report inability to send or receive media (photos, videos, files), download received content, or experience corrupted files upon upload.

  16

  reviews
  • “Can’t attach photos! — “Could not obtain the selected media files””
  • “Can’t upload videos anymore — Since updating yesterday I can’t upload videos.”
  • “Download Video Never work — Don’t understand why Google doesn’t implement that. Is it that hard to do so ?”
• Battery Drain and Background Performance Issues

  Users complain that the app consumes excessive battery power, runs aggressively in the background, overheats devices, and interferes with other system functions.

  12

  reviews
  • “Background tasks killing battery. — Chat just kills my battery. I have no idea why it burns as much battery running in the background as it does.”
  • “Wastes tons of battery when not in use. — Google Chat consistently uses 3-4x more battery than any other app and I’m not even using it. It’s just burning up battery in the background.”
  • “Even with Google Chat closed and Background App Refresh turned off, the app continues to run and makes my phone overheat.”
• Account Restrictions, Bans, and Login Failures

  Users report being blocked, banned, logged out unexpectedly, or stuck in login loops without clear reasons or recourse.

  13

  reviews
  • “Account restricted — I don’t know who my account has been blocked I want it reinstated back thank you”
  • “It disabled my account for no reason. — I was using google chat until today when I got a text message from friend and then it logged me out.”
  • “Broken login loop — I know my username. I know my password. Still, I have to sign in to another Google app and enter the number to prove I’m myself.”