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Samsung is closing the book on its text messaging platform this summer. After years of phasing out the program in favor of a more unified experience, the company has finally pulled the plug on its messaging app July this year. While many Galaxy owners have already been using Google’s version for years, those clinging to the old interface now have a set deadline to migrate their conversations before the service goes dark.
On a page with information about the switch, Samsung notes instructions on how to switch to the Google Messages app, including on phones still running Android 12 and Android 13. Samsung has historically installed its own Messages app on Galaxy phones, but is starting to move toward Google Messages. Early 2021.
To encourage people to switch to Google Messages, Samsung’s instructions list the new features that Google Messages offers, such as text messaging that supports RCS for features like typing indicators, easier group chats, and sending high-quality photos. Google Messages also has spam detection, AI-powered spam filters, access to messages across multiple devices, and some built-in Gemini AI features. It’s also the app that most Android phones use as their default texting app, including the latest Samsung phones Galaxy S26. There are other alternatives to SMS apps in the Google Play Store if you don’t want to use the app created by Google.
Samsung hasn’t said exactly when in July messaging in the app will no longer work. A Samsung representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Once the app is deactivated, messaging to emergency services will only work on Samsung messages.
Although Samsung stopped listing it as the default texting app in 2021, that won’t happen until 2024. Samsung has stopped pre-installing the text messaging app Next to Google messages. The Galaxy S26 can’t download the Samsung Messages app, and other phones won’t be able to download it after the app expires in July.
Samsung said users with Android 11 or lower are not affected by the end of service, but would also likely benefit from switching to a supported text messaging app like Google Messages. To switch to Google Messages, the company is asking users to do so Download the app If it is not already installed and set it as the default SMS app when prompted after launching it.
The post also notes that anyone using an older Galaxy Watch running Samsung’s Tizen operating system will no longer have access to their full chat history since those watches can’t use Google Messages. Samsung said it will still be able to read and send text messages, but the company’s newer watches (Galaxy Watch 4 and later) running WearOS will still be able to access full conversations.