Samsung Messages App Retiring in Favor of Google Messages

Samsung will sunset its messaging app, Samsung Messages, on newer phones in July 2026. Users will be required to transition to Google Messages as their default texting app.

Samsung says devices running Android 12 or later will prompt users to switch their default SMS (and RCS) app to Google Messages before the cutoff date, which is TBD. The company says older Galaxy phones running Android 11 or earlier will not receive these prompts and can keep using Samsung Messages—for now.

After July, Samsung Messages on affected devices will stop sending or receiving SMS and RCS messages, forcing users to make the switch. The only texts Samsung Messages will continue to handle are those sent to emergency contacts.

Samsung and Google have worked together on RCS support for years. Google Messages will continue to offer RCS chat features like typing indicators, higher-quality media sharing, and improved spam protection.

Users can ...