Joe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Samsung Messages will end its service in July 2026.
- The company has now clarified that the closure applies only to the US market.
- Samsung recommends switching to Google Messages for an improved experience.
At the beginning of last month, Samsung announced that It shut down its default texting app in July and suggested that users switch to Google Messages. However, the company has since clarified that the shutdown is currently limited to the US and that other regions may continue to use Samsung Messages for the foreseeable future.
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Samsung seems to have updated their end of service announcement since we covered the news, and added a line that says the shutdown is “applicable only to the US market.” This statement was not present at the time of our original coverage of this story.
The good news, however, is that if you prefer to use Samsung’s texting app for your messaging needs and you’re not in the US, you can rest easy at least for now. Although the company has clarified that the shutdown is limited to the US, it could be the start of a broader shutdown to come. However, this has not been confirmed and is simply speculation at this time.
It’s also worth noting that the shutdown will not affect users with devices running Android 11 or earlier. Additionally, users with devices running Android 12 or 13 will need to manually replace the Samsung Messages app icon at the base of their home screen.
If you’re still using Samsung Messages, you should see an option to switch to Google Messages. Alternatively, you can simply download Google Messages and set it as the default messaging app on your smartphone.
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