Samsung Messages Shutting Down: How to Save Your Texts Now
▼ Summary
– Samsung will deactivate its Samsung Messages app in July, forcing users to switch to Google Messages to avoid disruption in texting.
– Samsung provides instructions for migrating to Google Messages on phones running Android 12 and Android 13, as the transition is no longer optional.
– Google Messages offers features like RCS texting, typing indicators, group chats, high-quality image sharing, AI spam detection, and multi-device access.
– After deactivation, only emergency services messaging will work on Samsung Messages; the Galaxy S26 cannot download the app, and other phones won’t after July.
– Users of Android 11 or lower are unaffected, but older Galaxy Watches on Tizen will lose full conversation history when switching to Google Messages.
The clock is ticking for anyone still relying on the Samsung Messages app. With the company set to permanently deactivate its legacy texting platform this July, users who haven’t already migrated to Google Messages face an imminent disruption. If you fail to make the switch, your ability to send and receive everyday chats could grind to a halt.
Samsung has published a support page detailing the migration process, even for devices running older software like Android 12 and Android 13. For years, the company preloaded its own messaging app on Galaxy phones, but that strategy began shifting toward Google’s alternative as early as 2021. Now, the transition is no longer a suggestion,it’s a requirement.
To sweeten the deal, Samsung’s guide highlights the advantages of Google Messages, including RCS-enabled texting with typing indicators, smoother group chats, and higher-quality image sharing. The app also offers AI-powered spam detection, multi-device access, and built-in Gemini AI features. It has become the default texting app for most Android phones, including Samsung’s latest Galaxy S26. If Google’s app isn’t your preference, the Google Play Store provides other SMS alternatives.
Samsung has not specified the exact July date when the app will stop working, and a company representative declined to comment. Once deactivated, Samsung Messages will only function for emergency calls. The writing has been on the wall for a while: Samsung stopped making it the default in 2021, and by 2024, it stopped preinstalling the app altogether. The Galaxy S26 cannot even download Samsung Messages, and older models will lose access after the July sunset.
Users on Android 11 or lower are technically unaffected, but Samsung still recommends switching to a supported app like Google Messages. To make the move, download Google Messages if it isn’t already installed, then set it as the default SMS app when prompted.
One notable caveat: owners of older Galaxy Watches running Tizen will lose access to their full conversation history, as those devices cannot run Google Messages. They will still be able to read and send texts, but newer watches,Galaxy Watch 4 and later, which run WearOS,will maintain full conversation access. The message is clear: if you haven’t switched yet, now is the time to act.
(Source: CNET)
