WWDC 2025: All the new Messages and Phone features

Apple just announced a host of new changes coming to Messages, voicemail, and more at its 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference.

From attacking spam callers and texts — which have been rampant in the last few months — to making emojis more customizable, Apple's WWDC is full of improvements and new features for connecting with family, friends, lovers, and even enemies.

Here's what the tech giant announced at WWDC 2025 for Messages and more:

A new approach to spammers

Apple is improving its Call Screening feature by making its voicemail-based system even more robust. Now, when someone calls you, you'll immediately see a message describing who's on the other line — so you can decide if you want to pick up as soon as the first ring sounds.

iMessage is also getting more robust on-device spam detection. With this new feature, you can ask for more info and mark that messages are coming from unknown senders, then put them all in their own folder.

Can I put you on hold?

Darin Adler, the Vice President of Internet Technologies at Apple, announced that you can put your phone calls on hold now. Google Pixel can already do this.

Customize your group chat

Fans of WhatsApp's customizable backgrounds will be happy to hear that feature is finally available on iMessage. Users can change the background of their shared spaces in Messages with their own photos or a picture from Apple Intelligence.

Plus, group chats will have Apple Cash and group typing indicators (huge for Slack fans).

Take a poll

We've been hoping for this chaotic update, and now it's here: polls. You can ask a group chat exactly what dates or times work for a hang out, which outfit is the best option to wear going out, or who really wore it best at the 2025 Tony Awards.

Genmoji can be made by combining emojis

The director of input experience at Apple, Leslie Ikemoto, announced that you can combine two emojis in Genmoji and you can describe an addition you'd like to see on an existing Genmoji to create your own personalized emojis. You can even change the expression of a Genmoji's face.

Translate that, please

Live Translation is now integrated into Messages, FaceTime, and Phone. It can be used to automatically translate your messages, video captions, phone calls, and even lyric translation and pronunciation guides for songs.