Samsung is aware of there is no have to have two textual content messaging apps in your Galaxy telephone, and it is ending that confusion quickly. The corporate has warned users that the Samsung Messages app will probably be discontinued in July 2026 and can solely use Google Messages going ahead.
The cellular big calls on Samsung Messages customers to modify to Google for a “constant messaging expertise on Android” and claims a number of benefits in making the leap. Google Messages allows multi-device chat syncing, extensively accessible RCS messaging, AI options like good replies, and safety measures that embody SMS scam detection.
Google is slowly ruining the most important app on your phone
Fixed updates are nice till they go too far.
Samsung notes that it will not be doable to ship messages to any recipients past emergency contacts by its in-house app after July. You already cannot obtain Samsung Messages on the Galaxy S26 family, however everybody else will lose the obtain choice after the cutoff. Telephones working Android 11 and earlier aren’t affected by the shutdown.
The best way to change from Samsung Messages to Google Messages
It is extra advanced for some customers
The alert instructs customers easy methods to make Google Messages the default consumer. On Android 14 and newer, you solely need to open Google Messages, select “Set default SMS app” when prompted, and decide Google Messages from the checklist.
Galaxy house owners utilizing Android 12 or 13 have further steps to finish, as Google Messages would not routinely transfer to the house display dock. You may have to take away Samsung Messages from the docks by long-pressing the app and selecting Take away. After that, it’s good to long-press Google Messages within the app drawer and select “Add to House.” You may then want to tug Google’s icon into the house display dock.
Galaxy Watch fashions working Tizen (that’s, all the pieces earlier than the Galaxy Watch 4) do not help full dialog histories in Google Messages. Samsung provides switching to Google “might quickly disrupt” present RCS chats on gadgets made earlier than 2022.
The historical past and lengthy decline of Samsung Messages
From mainstay to unneeded extra
As with lots of the model’s proprietary apps, Samsung Messages was launched in 2009 to each differentiate Galaxy telephones from rival Android gadgets and hold clients invested in its ecosystem.
Whereas Samsung maintained the app and delivered a serious improve in 2019 with the arrival of OneUI, there have been mounting complaints that it was each falling behind and unnecessarily duplicating Google’s performance. It was additionally half of a bigger battle between Samsung and Google over default apps. Fortnite creator Epic Video games alleged in antitrust lawsuit testimony that Google paid Samsung $8 billion over 4 years to verify Galaxy gadgets used Google apps as defaults, together with the Play Retailer.
There have been additionally considerations about truly reliable RCS support. Whereas some carriers have explicitly supported Samsung’s implementation, Google’s RCS platform (Jibe) works on nearly each service and Android gadget. The transfer to Google Messages ensured that Samsung provided RCS to each buyer with out making particular community preparations or investing in app updates.
Regardless of the motivations, Samsung started transitioning in 2021 when it made Google Messages the default messaging app on the Galaxy S21 and newer {hardware}. Samsung stopped preloading its Messages app on new telephones in some areas in July 2024, starting with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6. The Galaxy S25 line dropped Samsung Messages completely.
The dying of Samsung Messages reduces the number of messaging apps on Android gadgets. Nonetheless, it additionally ensures full compatibility with different Android handsets and eases switching. You may transfer to a Google Pixel or Motorola Razr whereas understanding that your chats and high-quality movies will stay intact.
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