Samsung will shut down its Messages app in July 2026, ending support for an app that stopped pre-installing as the default texting app in 2021. Users still using Samsung Messages will need to switch to an alternative before the shutdown date.
Samsung recommends Google Messages and has provided migration instructions for devices running Android 12 and Android 13. The company has not announced a specific date in July when the app will stop working. After the closure, Samsung Messages will only be able to support calls to emergency services.
What happens when Samsung Messages turns off?
Once Samsung Messages is disabled, the app’s support for regular SMS and MMS will stop. Devices running Android 12 or later that still have Samsung Messages installed must set up a different default SMS app before July to continue sending messages.
The Galaxy S26 I can’t download Samsung Messages at all. After the July shutdown, other Galaxy models will also lose the option to download the app from the Play Store. Users on Android 11 or earlier are not affected by this change, although Samsung recommends switching to a supported messaging app.
How to switch from Samsung Messages to Google Messages
Samsung’s migration page details the following steps: First, download Google Messages from the Play Store if it’s not already installed. Next, open the app and set it as the default SMS app when prompted.
Google Messages supports RCS, which offers features like typing indicators, higher quality image sharing, and better group chat functionality. The app also includes AI-based spam detection, allows access to messages across multiple devices, and features Gemini AI. Users who prefer other SMS apps can find alternatives in the Play Store.
How the shutdown affects older Galaxy watches
Users with older Galaxy watches running Samsung’s Tizen OS you will lose access to your entire conversation history after switching, as Tizen watches do not support Google Messages. Samsung says these watches will still be able to send and read text messages, but conversation history will no longer be accessible.
Galaxy Watch 4 and newer models work with WearOS and is fully compatible with Google Messages, including access to full conversation history.
Samsung began transitioning its own Messages app to Google Messages in 2021 and stopped pre-installing the app alongside Google Messages in 2024. The transition is expected to be complete with a planned shutdown of July 2026.
