In case your Galaxy cellphone nonetheless depends on Samsung Messages for on a regular basis texting, its days are numbered. Samsung has confirmed it would retire its long-running messaging app this July, ending assist for SMS, MMS and RCS on the platform throughout the US. The shift has been a very long time coming. Google Messages has been the default on new Galaxy units since 2024. However for holdouts, the looming shutdown means it is time to act earlier than your texts and chat historical past are caught in limbo.
On a web page with details about the swap, Samsung factors to directions on learn how to swap over to Google’s Messages app, together with for telephones which might be nonetheless on Android 12 and Android 13. Samsung has traditionally included its personal Messages app on Galaxy telephones, however started transitioning towards Google Messages as early as 2021.
To encourage folks to change to Google Messages, Samsung’s directions listing consists of new options provided by Google Messages, like RCS-enabled texting for options like typing indicators, simpler group chats and sending higher-quality photos. Google’s Messages app additionally has AI-powered spam detection and spam filters, multi-device entry to messages and a few built-in Gemini AI options. It is also the app that the majority Android telephones use as their default texting app, together with Samsung’s more moderen Galaxy S26. There are different SMS texting app alternate options within the Google Play Retailer in case you do not need to use the one made by Google.
Samsung has not mentioned when precisely in July messaging will not work within the app. A Samsung consultant did not reply to a request for remark. As soon as the app is deactivated, solely messaging to emergency providers will work on Samsung Messages.
Whereas Samsung did cease together with it because the default texting app in 2021, it wasn’t till 2024 that Samsung stopped preinstalling the texting app alongside Google Messages. The Galaxy S26 cannot obtain the Samsung Messages app, and different telephones will not have the ability to obtain it after the app’s July sundown.
Samsung mentioned customers of Android 11 or decrease aren’t affected by the tip of service, however would additionally seemingly profit from switching to a supported texting app like Google Messages. To modify to Google Messages, the corporate asks customers to obtain the app if it is not already put in and to set it because the default SMS app when prompted after launching it.
The submit additionally notes that anybody utilizing an older Galaxy Watch that runs on Samsung’s Tizen working system will not have entry to their full dialog historical past since these watches can’t use Google Messages. Samsung mentioned that they’ll nonetheless have the ability to learn and ship textual content messages, however the firm’s newer watches (Galaxy Watch 4 and later) that run WearOS will nonetheless have entry to full conversations.
