Danny Weber
05:43 06-04-2026
© A. Krivonosov
Samsung will discontinue its Messages app in July 2026, advising users to switch to Google Messages for SMS and RCS features. Learn about the transition and benefits.
Samsung has officially announced it will discontinue its proprietary messaging app, Samsung Messages. According to the company's statement, the service will be completely shut down in July 2026, giving users about 12 weeks to prepare for the transition. After that date, the app will likely disappear from the Google Play Store and Galaxy Store. For continued SMS functionality on Galaxy devices, users will need to switch to an alternative solution.
Google Messages will serve as the primary replacement. Samsung is already explicitly advising users to install it and set it as their default messaging app. The transition process is straightforward: simply download the app, open it, and confirm the setup as the main SMS client. After this, all messaging features will be accessible through Google's service.
It's worth noting that on older devices running Android 11 or earlier versions, Samsung Messages will continue to function even after July. This includes models like the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9. The likely reason is limited compatibility between these devices and the current version of Google Messages.
In practice, this move away from Samsung's own messenger isn't surprising. Since 2025, Samsung has been gradually transitioning new smartphones to use Google Messages as the standard app. Many models, including the Galaxy S25 series, already shipped with it pre-installed, and the S26 lineup doesn't include the proprietary app at all.
The main driver behind this decision is support for the RCS standard. Unlike Samsung Messages, which depends on carrier support, Google Messages provides full RCS functionality regardless of network. This detail matters because it highlights a key advantage: Google Messages offers enhanced features like AI-based fraud protection, cross-device synchronization, real-time location sharing, and other modern capabilities. Looking ahead, the app is expected to gain even more features, including video calling.
Overall, the picture is straightforward: Samsung is fully abandoning its own messaging platform in favor of Google's more universal and feature-rich solution.