Samsung has confirmed that it will deactivate its Samsung Messages app for users in the United States this July, requiring Galaxy owners who still rely on the service to move to an alternative messaging platform.
The transition marks another step in Samsung’s shift toward Google’s messaging ecosystem, with the company encouraging users to adopt Google Messages. However, Samsung has warned that existing SMS texts, RCS chats, and message history will not transfer automatically.
Users will need to complete the migration process themselves before the shutdown takes effect.
Galaxy Users Must Switch Manually
Samsung has released a step-by-step guide explaining how users can move from Samsung Messages to Google Messages, including instructions for devices running Android 12 and Android 13.
To make the switch, users must download Google Messages if it is not already installed and set it as their default texting app when prompted after opening the application.
Why Samsung Is Recommending Google Messages
Samsung says Google Messages offers a more modern messaging experience through features such as:
- RCS messaging with enhanced chat functionality
- Typing indicators and read receipts
- Improved group conversations
- Support for sending higher-quality photos and videos
- AI-powered spam protection and filtering
- Multi-device access across supported platforms
- Built-in Gemini AI capabilities
Google Messages has already become the default messaging app on most Android smartphones, including Samsung’s latest Galaxy S26 lineup.
Users who prefer other options can still choose from a variety of third-party SMS applications available through the Google Play Store.
July Deadline Approaching
While Samsung has yet to announce the exact date the service will end in July, the company confirmed that once Samsung Messages is deactivated, only emergency messaging functions will remain accessible through the app.
Samsung has been gradually phasing out its proprietary messaging platform for years. In 2021, it stopped making Samsung Messages the default texting app on Galaxy devices. By 2024, newer phones no longer came preinstalled with both Samsung Messages and Google Messages.
The recently launched Galaxy S26 does not support downloading Samsung Messages at all, and following the July shutdown, older Galaxy devices will also lose access to the app.
What About Older Devices and Galaxy Watches?
Samsung said users with devices running Android 11 or earlier will not be directly affected by the service discontinuation. Even so, the company recommends transitioning to a supported messaging app to ensure access to future updates and features.
The move will also impact owners of older Galaxy Watches powered by Samsung’s Tizen operating system. These devices cannot run Google Messages, meaning users will lose access to their complete conversation history on their watches. However, they will still be able to send and receive basic text messages.
Newer Galaxy Watch models, including the Galaxy Watch 4 and later devices running WearOS, will continue to support full messaging functionality through Google Messages.
Samsung’s latest decision effectively ends an era for one of its longest-running native apps, signaling the company’s complete embrace of Google’s messaging platform across the Galaxy ecosystem.
