Samsung Messages shuts down in favor of Google Messages sometime this month
9to5 Google 2026-07-01 14:05:00
Context: Samsung's Messages app, which has been the pre-installed SMS app on Galaxy phones for years, is set to shut down in favor of Google Messages sometime this month. The shutdown was announced earlier this year, and it comes as Google Messages has become the default texting app on Galaxy phones. The change will affect Galaxy devices running Android 12 or newer.
Key Facts
- Samsung Messages will cease to work on Galaxy devices running Android 12 or newer sometime in July 2026, although the exact end-of-service date has not been confirmed by Samsung.
- On Galaxy devices running Android 14 and newer, Samsung Messages will automatically shift to Google Messages, including the icon on the homescreen.
- Samsung stopped pre-installing its own Messages app on Galaxy devices sold in the US in 2024 and actively pushed users to Google's app later that year.
- In a poll of 9to5Google readers, the primary reasons users didn't want to switch from Samsung Messages to Google Messages were the app's layout and features, as well as themes.
- Older Galaxy devices running older Android versions can continue using Samsung Messages, even after the shutdown.