If you’ve been holding onto Samsung Messages out of habit, your time is running out. Samsung has officially posted an end-of-service announcement confirming that Samsung Messages will be discontinued in July 2026. The company is now actively pushing Galaxy users to make the switch to Google Messages.
The notice went up on Samsung’s US website and makes it pretty clear this isn’t a soft deprecation. Once Samsung Messages is discontinued, you won’t be able to use it to send texts anymore, with the only exception being emergency service numbers and emergency contacts saved on your device. The app will also be pulled from the Galaxy Store after the cutoff. If you want the exact date for your region, Samsung is directing users to check inside the app itself. Devices running Android 11 or lower aren’t affected. This means that older phones like the Galaxy S9 are safe.
What you’re moving to
Google Messages has been the default on new Galaxy phones for a while now, so this announcement is more of a formal goodbye than a surprise. As we covered back in 2024, Samsung had already committed to Google Messages as its default messaging platform before this official end-of-service notice ever landed.
The Galaxy S26 actually skipped Samsung Messages entirely, and owners of that phone can’t even download it from the Galaxy Store at this point. As for what Google Messages actually brings to the table, RCS support is the big one. Carrier-independent RCS means you get typing indicators, high-quality media sharing, and better group chats without needing your carrier to cooperate.
Switching is straightforward. Open Google Messages, tap “Set default SMS app” when prompted, and you’re done. Android 14 and newer will automatically shift the Google Messages icon into your dock. If you’re on Android 12 or 13, you’ll need to do that part manually.
