Session Messenger Announces Upcoming Major Upgrade in Group Chats

Secure messaging platform Session is set to roll out Groups v2, a significant upgrade designed to enhance the reliability and functionality of group chats.

The update, which will be released in three phases, aims to resolve stability issues in large groups while laying the foundation for new features in the future.

With the upcoming changes, users will experience a more seamless group chat experience, with better synchronization of settings such as disappearing messages, smoother group creation, and improved member management. The update will also allow users to resend group invitations, reducing the friction involved in adding new members.

Timeline for Groups v2 rollout

The transition to Groups v2 will occur in three stages:

March 10, 2025 – The Groups v2 update is released but remains inactive, giving users time to update their apps and prepare for migration.
March 19, 2025, 22:00 UTC – Groups v2 is officially enabled, allowing admins to recreate their existing groups using the new architecture. New groups created from this date will automatically adopt the updated framework.
April 2, 2025, 22:00 UTC – Old group chats will become read-only, meaning users can still view past messages but won’t be able to send new messages, modify settings, or manage group members.

For a smooth transition, group admins must ensure they and their group members update to the latest version of Session. Once Groups v2 is enabled, admins can upgrade their groups by selecting the Recreate Group option within the chat interface. The newly created group will retain the same name and members but will not carry over chat history.

Any users who haven’t updated their Session app will not receive invitations to the new group, so admins are advised to encourage members to manually update via their app store or GitHub.

Future enhancements

The Groups v2 update not only resolves existing reliability issues but also lays the groundwork for upcoming features. Planned improvements include:

Custom group descriptions and display pictures
Support for multiple admins with enhanced moderation tools
Invitations for users outside contacts via ONS or Account ID
Spam protection by filtering invitations into message requests
The ability for admins to leave a group without deleting it
Options to share or hide message history for newly invited members
A more intuitive UI for group creation and management

These enhancements will be introduced in future updates, offering Session users a continuously improving group chat experience.

To avoid disruptions, users should ensure they are running the latest version of Session before March 19, 2025. Group admins are encouraged to spread awareness by sharing Session’s official announcement in their groups. By upgrading early, members can ensure a seamless transition when Groups v2 goes live.

If you're interested in trying out Session, check out our in-depth review of the product.