What you’ll want to know
- Samsung will discontinue its Messages app in July 2026 and require customers to modify to Google Messages.
- After the shutdown, Samsung Messages won’t ship texts aside from emergency contacts and providers.
- Customers will probably be guided to modify by means of in-app prompts and may set Google Messages as default simply.
- Units working Android 11 or decrease stay unaffected.
Samsung has formally confirmed that it’s going to shut down its Messages app later in 2026, and customers might want to swap to Google Messages.
Again in 2024, Samsung stopped pre-installing its Messages app on flagship Galaxy units. On the time, that transfer prompt the corporate was making ready to section it out, and now Samsung has confirmed it can discontinue the app in July 2026. The corporate has printed an official discover on its U.S. web site confirming the change.
In that discover, Samsung says customers can swap to Google Messages as their default app to keep up a constant Android messaging expertise. The fantastic print additionally states that after the app is discontinued, “sending messages by way of Samsung Messages in your cellphone will not be doable, aside from emergency service numbers or emergency contacts outlined in your system.”
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(Picture credit score: Samsung)
Samsung additionally notes that customers will not be capable to obtain the Messages app from the Galaxy Retailer as soon as it’s discontinued. Newer units, together with the Galaxy S26 collection, already don’t help putting in Samsung Messages.
It’s, nonetheless, price noting that customers on Android 11 or older are usually not affected by this transformation and can nonetheless be capable to use the Samsung Messages app on their units.
Google Messages will exchange Samsung Messages
(Picture credit score: Brady Snyder / Android Central)
However what occurs subsequent for the remainder of us? Nicely, Samsung is encouraging customers to transition to Google Messages as a part of a “constant messaging expertise on Android.” Between now and July, customers might obtain in-app notifications in Samsung Messages guiding them by means of the swap.
In apply, the method is easy. The immediate will ask you to open or set up Google Messages, after which you will note an choice to set it as your default SMS app. You simply have to faucet “Set as default” to finish the transition.
Samsung additionally warns that on some units launched earlier than 2022, switching apps might briefly disrupt ongoing RCS conversations. Nonetheless, chats ought to resume as soon as each customers transfer to Google Messages.
The corporate additionally highlights a few of the advantages of the swap, together with improved safety, RCS help, AI options, and higher multi-device connectivity.
Android Central’s Take
This seems like a smart transfer from Samsung. Most Android manufacturers have already moved to Google Messages, so it is sensible for Samsung to comply with. Google has been including options at a a lot sooner tempo anyway, so Galaxy customers will now get these updates immediately as a substitute of ready round.
