Samsung will shut down its Messages app in July 2026, ending support for an application it stopped preinstalling 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 cease functioning. After the shutdown, Samsung Messages will only be able to support calls to emergency services.
What Happens When Samsung Messages Shuts Down
Once Samsung Messages is deactivated, the app’s support for regular SMS and MMS will stop. Devices running Android 12 or newer that still have Samsung Messages installed need to set a different default SMS app before July to continue messaging.
The Galaxy S26 cannot 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 application 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-powered spam detection, allows message access across multiple devices, and features Gemini AI. Users who prefer other SMS apps can find alternatives on the Play Store.
How the Shutdown Affects Older Galaxy Watches
Users with older Galaxy Watches running Samsung’s Tizen operating system will lose access to their full conversation history after switching, since Tizen watches are not compatible with Google Messages. Samsung states that 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 operate on WearOS and support Google Messages fully, including access to complete conversation history.
Samsung began transitioning from its own Messages app to Google Messages in 2021 and stopped preinstalling the app alongside Google Messages in 2024. The transition is expected to be completed with the shutdown planned for July 2026.
