Your Samsung Messages are about to disappear, here's what to do before July
Android Police 2026-06-28 17:00:25
Context: Samsung Messages, the default messaging app on Samsung phones, is set to be discontinued in July, with users being encouraged to switch to Google Messages. This move is part of Samsung's effort to maintain a consistent messaging experience on Android, with better security and features. The company began pushing users to switch to Google Messages two years ago, with an official end-of-service announcement made in April.
Key Facts
- Samsung Messages will be discontinued in July, with the exact date available in the Samsung Messages app, and users are being encouraged to switch to Google Messages to maintain a consistent messaging experience on Android.
- Samsung began pushing users to switch to Google Messages two years ago, starting with the release of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 in the US, and later prompting users with older Galaxy models to make the switch.
- The company cites the need for better security, including spam and scam prevention, RCS messaging for improved media sharing, Gemini features, and improved connectivity with smartwatches and tablets, as the reason for discontinuing Samsung Messages.
- Users can manually move their existing messages to Google Messages by checking if their texts have been locally stored on their phone or in Samsung Cloud, and then following a series of steps to restore their data and set Google Messages as their default SMS app.
- For phones with older versions of Android, such as Android 12 and Android 13, users may need to take extra steps to move Google Messages to the home screen dock after switching, including manually adding the app icon to the dock.