Google Messages now shows a small dot on the plus‑menu after the Realtime Location Sharing feature rolls out. The badge remains even when you stop sharing, creating confusion for users who expect it to disappear automatically. It also clutters the UI.
Technical Solution
The badge can be cleared by resetting the location sharing state and refreshing the apps UI cache. First, turn off Realtime Location Sharing for the conversation, then clear the apps temporary data. If the dot persists, a full cache purge or a force‑stop followed by a restart forces the system to redraw the badge indicator, removing the stray dot.
Disable Realtime Location Sharing
Open the conversation, tap the green location pill, select the duration dropdown, and choose Stop sharing. Confirm the action to ensure the sharing session ends.
Clear App Cache
Navigate to Settings → Apps → Google Messages → Storage, then tap Clear cache. This removes stale UI elements without affecting your messages.
Force‑Stop and Restart the App
In the same app info screen, select Force stop. Reopen Google Messages from the launcher the interface reloads and the badge should disappear.
Update to the Latest Version
Check Play Store for any pending updates. Google often patches UI glitches in minor releases, so installing the newest version can resolve lingering badge issues.