If you are a Samsung user and use Samsung Messages, there is important news for you. Samsung Messages will be discontinued by July 2026. The company has advised users to use Google Messages.
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Samsung has set a date for discontinuing its legacy messaging app, Samsung Messages. The company has asked users to now transition to Google Messages. On newer Galaxy devices, Google Messages is already being provided as the default app. This shift is considered a significant step toward making the messaging system more modern and improved.
Samsung Messages to Shut Down Starting July 2026
Samsung has announced on its support website that Samsung Messages will be completely discontinued by July 2026. Although the exact date has not yet been specified, users will continue to receive updates regarding this via in-app notifications. Devices running Android 11 or older versions will not be affected by this change. Newer smartphones and tablets no longer come with Samsung Messages pre-installed; instead, Google Messages has been designated as the default app.
How Google Messages Will Become the New Default App
The company has clarified that, going forward, Google Messages will be the standard messaging application used across all Galaxy devices. Users will be required to set it as their default SMS app. To facilitate this, a prompt featuring a “Set default SMS app” option will appear immediately upon opening the application, allowing users to make the switch with ease. Samsung has also provided assurances that existing messages and contacts can be transferred or synced via Smart Switch or Google Drive, thereby preventing any loss of data.
What Will Be the Impact on Older Devices and Users?
Samsung’s decision is expected to have a particular impact on users of older devices. Older Samsung Galaxy Watch models—specifically those running on the Tizen OS—do not support Google Messages. Consequently, once Samsung Messages is discontinued, the complete message history will no longer be accessible on these devices. However, users will still be able to send and receive basic text messages. Furthermore, some devices launched prior to 2022 may experience issues with RCS services. Additionally, following the discontinuation of Samsung Messages, it will no longer be possible to send standard text messages; the application will remain functional solely for contacting emergency services or emergency contacts.
