On Android, dismissing a chat bubble is usually a temporary display action, not a permanent setting for that conversation. If a new message arrives later, the bubble can appear again. The distinction matters when a bubble covers reading material.
What dismissing the bubble actually does
A dismissed bubble disappears from the current screen, while the conversation and its messages remain available in the messaging app. The next incoming message may create the bubble again. Therefore, dismissing it does not delete the conversation, mute the sender, block the sender, or prevent future messages.
Hypothetical example: An adult is reading an article when a chat bubble covers part of the text. They dismiss the bubble and continue reading. Later, the same contact sends a new message. The bubble returns, because the earlier action only removed the bubble from view at that time.
How to stop one conversation bubbling
To change the setting for that conversation, open its bubble, tap Manage, and choose Don’t bubble conversation. This is a conversation-specific choice. It is different from deleting messages: the conversation can still be opened in the messaging app and new messages can still arrive.
Hypothetical comparison: If the reader only dismisses the bubble, it can return with the next message. If they select Don’t bubble conversation, the intended result is to stop that conversation from appearing as a bubble, while leaving the messaging relationship intact.
Limits to the setting
Android bubble controls apply to supported messaging conversations, not to every floating alert, game popup, or app notification. Some messaging apps do not support bubbles. Menu names and steps can also vary by device and Android version; the linked Google guidance describes Pixel steps for Android 11 and later.
For the documented steps, see Google’s Android Help guide to bubbles and conversations.