Samsung will shut down the Messages app in July 2026 and will end support for an app that it stopped preloading as the default messaging app in 2021. Users who still use Samsung Messages will need to switch to an alternative app before the shutdown date.

Samsung recommends Google Messages and has provided transition instructions for devices running Android 12 and Android 13. The company has not announced a specific date in July for when the app will cease to function. After the shutdown, Samsung Messages may only provide support for calling emergency services.

What Will Happen When Samsung Messages is Shut Down

When Samsung Messages is disabled, the app's normal SMS and MMS support will end. Devices running Android 12 or newer that still have Samsung Messages installed will need to set a different default SMS app before July.

The Galaxy S26 will not be able to download Samsung Messages at all. After the shutdown in July, other Galaxy models will also lose the option to download the app from the Play Store. Users on Android 11 or older versions will not be affected by this change, but Samsung recommends switching to a supported messaging app.

How to Switch from Samsung Messages to Google Messages

The following steps are detailed on Samsung's transition page: First, download Google Messages from the Play Store if it is not already installed. Then, open the app and set it as the default SMS app when prompted.

Google Messages supports RCS, which offers features such as typing indicators, higher quality image sharing, and better group chat functionality. The app also includes AI-powered spam detection, the ability to access messages on multiple devices, and Gemini AI features. Users who prefer other SMS apps can find alternatives on the Play Store.

How the Shutdown Will Affect Older Galaxy Watches

Users with older Galaxy Watches running Samsung's Tizen operating system will lose access to their full conversation history, as Tizen watches are not compatible with Google Messages. While Samsung states that these watches can still send and receive text messages, it expresses that access to conversation history will no longer be available.

The Galaxy Watch 4 and newer models run on WearOS and fully support Google Messages, providing access to conversation history.

Samsung began the transition from its Messages app to Google Messages in 2021 and stopped preloading the app with Google Messages in 2024. The transition is expected to be completed with the planned shutdown in July 2026.