Samsung has disclosed that it will discontinue the Samsung Messages app in July 2026 for Galaxy devices operating on Android 12 or newer versions. Post this date, the app will cease to support regular messaging, except for limited functionalities like emergency service numbers and predefined emergency contacts.
The South Korean tech giant made this announcement in a blog post, advising users to switch to Google Messages as their default messaging app to maintain a consistent messaging experience on Android. This move marks the end of Samsung’s ten-year use of its messaging app and aligns with the broader trend towards Google’s Android messaging ecosystem.
Samsung has already taken steps to facilitate this shift by pre-installing Google Messages on recent models and removing Samsung Messages from the Galaxy Store. However, devices running on Android 11 or earlier versions will remain unaffected by this update, as older Android iterations are not fully compatible with newer communication standards.
To transition to Google Messages, users can opt for an in-app notification or manual installation. For in-app prompts within Samsung Messages, users need to follow on-screen instructions to complete the switch. Alternatively, users can manually install or open Google Messages from the Play Store, select it as the default SMS app, and confirm the change by setting it as default. For users on Android 12 or 13, it is recommended to replace Samsung Messages on the home screen with Google Messages for easier access.
Google Messages offers various enhancements compared to Samsung Messages, such as Rich Communication Services (RCS), which supports high-quality media sharing, group chats, and real-time typing indicators. Additionally, it includes AI-powered spam and scam detection, integration with Google’s Gemini AI for smart replies and photo remixing, and multi-device messaging across phones, tablets, and select smartwatches.
The shift from proprietary messaging apps to Google Messages started with Samsung, raising questions about the possibility of similar moves from other brands like Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi. The future of this trend remains uncertain.