Samsung has officially confirmed that it will discontinue its Messages app in July 2026, forcing users to adopt Google Messages as their default messaging app.
The company posted a notice on its U.S. website, detailing that, once the Samsung app is removed, sending messages through it will no longer be possible, except for emergency service numbers or contacts defined as such on the devices.
Goodbye to an era with more than 10 years of history
Since 2024, Samsung stopped pre-installing its own Messages app on high-end Galaxy devices, which already hinted at a transition to Google Messages.
As of the closing date, users will also see that they will not be able to download the Messages app from the Galaxy Store, reflecting a significant change in the company’s messaging strategy. However, users of devices running Android 11 or earlier versions will not be affected and will be able to continue using the Samsung Messages app without any issues.
To facilitate the transition, Samsung will encourage users to choose Google Messages as their default app, promising a more consistent messaging experience in the Android ecosystem. Meanwhile, Samsung Messages users will receive in-app notifications that will guide them through the switching process.
It is a simple procedure: when opening Google Messages, an option will appear to set it as the default SMS app, you just need to press “Set as default” to complete the transition.
Samsung warns that some devices launched before 2022 may experience temporary interruptions in RCS conversations when switching apps; however, chats are expected to resume once both users switch to Google Messages.
This decision responds to a larger trend in the industry, where other Android manufacturers have already opted for Google Messages, allowing users to benefit from advanced features, such as enhanced security supports and functionalities based on artificial intelligence.