Samsung Messages will be deactivated for users in the United States in July, meaning Galaxy users who still rely on the app will need to switch to another texting app.
The change mainly pushes users toward Google Messages, but Samsung has warned that text messages, RCS conversations and message history will not move automatically.
Users will need to complete the migration themselves before the app stops working.
Samsung has published instructions explaining how users can switch from Samsung Messages to Google Messages. The guide also includes steps for phones still running Android 12 and Android 13.
Users need to download Google Messages if it is not already installed and then set it as the default SMS app when prompted after opening it.
Samsung is encouraging users to move to Google Messages by pointing to features such as RCS texting, typing indicators, easier group chats, and support for sending higher-quality images.
Google Messages also includes AI-powered spam detection, spam filters, multi-device access and some built-in Gemini AI features. The app is already the default texting app on most Android phones, including Samsung’s newer Galaxy S26.
Users who do not want to use Google Messages can still choose other SMS apps from the Google Play Store.
Samsung has not given an exact date in July for when the app will stop working. Once Samsung Messages is deactivated, only messages to emergency services will continue to work through the app.
Samsung began moving away from its own Messages app in 2021, when it stopped making it the default texting app on Galaxy phones. In 2024, Samsung also stopped preinstalling Samsung Messages alongside Google Messages.
The Galaxy S26 cannot download Samsung Messages, and other phones will also lose access to downloading the app after its July shutdown.
Samsung said users on Android 11 or older will not be affected by the end of service. However, the company said these users would still benefit from switching to a supported texting app such as Google Messages. The change will also affect users with older Galaxy Watch models running Samsung’s Tizen operating system.
These watches cannot use Google Messages, so users will no longer have access to their full conversation history on those devices. They will still be able to read and send text messages. Samsung’s newer watches, including the Galaxy Watch 4 and later models running WearOS, will continue to support full conversations.
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