Samsung to shut down messages app

Samsung has announced it will discontinue its long-standing Samsung Messages app in July 2026, marking the final phase of a transition that began several years ago. The app, which has not been preinstalled as the default messaging service since 2021, will soon stop functioning for regular use.

Users who still rely on Samsung Messages will need to switch to an alternative before the shutdown. The company is recommending Google Messages and has issued migration guidelines for devices running Android 12 and Android 13. While no exact shutdown date in July has been specified, once deactivated, the app will only support emergency service communication.

Following the shutdown, standard SMS and MMS functionality on Samsung Messages will cease. Users with devices running Android 12 or newer must set another app as their default messaging platform to continue sending texts. Notably, the Samsung Galaxy S26 will not support downloading Samsung Messages at all, and other Galaxy devices will also lose access to the app via the Play Store after July 2026. Devices running Android 11 or earlier will not be directly affected, though Samsung still advises upgrading to a supported app.

To transition, users can download Google Messages from the Play Store and set it as their default SMS app. The platform offers enhanced features through RCS (Rich Communication Services), including typing indicators, improved media sharing, advanced group chats, AI-driven spam detection, and multi-device access.

The shutdown will also impact users of older Galaxy Watches running the Tizen operating system. These devices will lose access to full conversation histories after switching to Google Messages, as they are not fully compatible with the platform. However, they will still support basic messaging functions. Newer models like the Galaxy Watch 4 and beyond, which operate on WearOS, will continue to support full messaging features.

Samsung began shifting away from its in-house messaging app in 2021 and stopped preinstalling it alongside Google Messages in 2024. The complete shutdown in July 2026 will officially conclude this transition.