Samsung Messages is shutting down in July: What Galaxy users must do now

Samsung says that owners of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series and newer Galaxy devices will also not be affected by this change.

Samsung Galaxy smartphone users will soon have to ditch the company’s official messaging app, that is, the Samsung Messages app. The company has officially confirmed that it is shutting down its Messages app later this year. Once the app shuts down, Samsung smartphone users will have to switch to the Google Message app, which will also become the default messaging app on Galaxy devices.

The Samsung Messages app will be discontinued in July 2026. (Samsung)

By Shweta Ganjoo

Shweta Ganjoo is a Chief Content Producer at HT Tech. She has over 10 years of experience covering technology, during which time she has focused on consumer tech devices, AI, social media, gadgets, and tech policy, delivering authoritative and reader-focused insights across India’s fast-evolving digital ecosystem.

She began her career in the early 2010s, building a strong foundation in digital-first reporting as India’s tech landscape rapidly expanded. Over the years, she has worked with leading media organizations including India Today Tech, Indian Express Group, and Techlusive, where she played a key role in scaling editorial content and audience engagement. At HT Tech, she drives product recommendation coverage, combining newsroom leadership with hands-on reporting experience.

Her expertise spans smartphones, wearables, smart home devices, AI, and social media ecosystems, along with regulatory developments shaping the tech industry. Shweta is known for her analytical approach to product reviews and news coverage, grounded in hands-on testing and real-world usability. She has conducted industry interviews, tracked emerging tech trends, and produced research-backed stories using verified sources and expert inputs. She holds a masters in Mass Communication, which complements her professional experience in digital journalism and content strategy, and aligns with her academic background in technology. Shweta follows a reader-first editorial philosophy, prioritising accuracy, transparency, and fact-checked reporting to deliver reliable, insightful, and practical insights.

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It is worth mentioning that this switch to Google Messages app has been long coming. As per media reports, Samsung stopped shipping its Galaxy smartphones with Samsung Messages as the default messaging app app, a few years ago. The app, however, continued to come pre-installed on its devices. But that changed in 2024 when the company stopped pre-installing the app on its flagship devices. Now, the company has decided to phase out the Samsung Messages app in favour of the Google Messages app to maintain “a consistent messaging experience on Android”. The app will be discontinued in July 2026 and the exact date of discontinuation will be notified to users within the app.

Once the app is discontinued, users will not be able to send messages from the app. However, the app will continue to support emergency service numbers and emergency contacts defined in their devices.

Who is affected by this change?

Samsung says that users with Galaxy smartphones running on Android 11 or older Android versions will not be affected by this change. The company has also confirmed that the owners of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series and newer Galaxy devices will also not be affected by this change as the app is not available to download on these devices.

This means that users with devices running Android 12, Android 13, Android 14 and Android 15 will have to switch from the Samsung Messages app to the Google Messages app on their devices.

How to switch from Samsung Messages app to Google Messages app?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to switch from the Samsung Messages app to the Google Message app:

Step 1: Download and open the Google Messages app on your Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Step 2: The first time you open the app, you will see a message that says - "To use Messages, make it your default SMS app".

Step 3: Tap the "Set default SMS app" button.

Step 4: Select Google Messages.

Step 5: Tap the "Set as default" option and you're done!

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