Google Chat is adding the option to mark messages and rooms as unread or read. This is expected to roll out over the next two weeks.

If you use Google Chat, you should now or soon be able to mark your messages and rooms as read/unread. The option is rolling out to everyone using Google Workspace, as well as G Suite Basic and G Suite Business, with no admin or end-user actions required. You don’t need to dive through the menu to enable it — it will be turned on by default once the rollout reaches you.

Marking read messages as unread is something that Google recognizes as a common method of staying organized, and that's why it's coming to Google Chat. The idea is to provide an easier way to stay on top of exchanges that you may not have time to respond to right away but need to come back to later. You can also mark entire threads as unread, starting with a specific message.

Both mobile and web interfaces are also covered in the rollout, so regardless of your platform of choice, you're still covered. The only difference is the interface, with the option appearing under "message actions" and "conversation options" on mobile. On the web, it appears in the conversation list in the left-hand menu bar, or as an icon when you hover over a message.