Google Messages for the Web is a useful piece of software I've "installed" on my Linux machines, mostly because I'd rather manage texts on a 24" monitor than a 6" smartphone screen. That's possible because Messages is a Progressive Web App (PWA) that can be setup on a desktop using any Chromium-derived web browser, in this case Brave on Linux Mint 22.3 (Zena):
- Open Brave browser and go to https://messages.google.com/web
- Authenticate by "Pair with QR code"
- Click on the tiny computer icon over on the right-hand side of the address bar
- Select [Install]
At this point the Messages "app" will show up on the Mint menu under "Brave Browser Apps", but it will be lacking the Messages icon. To get that:
- In the browser, go to brave://apps
- Right click on Messages > Create shortcut
- De-select "Desktop" but leave "Applications menu" checked
- Click [Create]
- Go to MInt menu > Brave Browser Apps > right click Add to panel
References:
"How do I install and use Web Apps in Brave?". Brave Help Center, https://support.brave.app/hc/en-us/articles/39077114659597-How-do-I-install-and-use-Web-Apps-in-Brave.