If Samsung Messages is still set as your default texting app, you’ll need to act before July. The app is being discontinued for US users, and the texts, RCS conversations, and message history stored in it won’t move automatically. Everything is shifting to Google Messages, and while the migration is straightforward, it isn’t automatic.
The steps that keep your chat history intact must be performed by you before the deadline; the longer you wait, the higher the chance that something gets left behind.
On a support page about the transition, Samsung points to instructions for switching to Google’s Messages app, covering phones on Android 12 and Android 13. Samsung historically bundled its own Messages app with Galaxy phones, but began moving toward Google Messages as early as 2021.
To encourage the switch, Samsung’s guide highlights new features in Google Messages, such as RCS‑enabled texting with typing indicators, easier group chats, and higher‑quality image sharing. Google’s app also offers AI‑driven spam detection, spam filters, multi‑device access, and some built‑in Gemini AI capabilities.
Google Messages is now the default texting app on most Android devices, including Samsung’s newer Galaxy S26. If you prefer a different SMS app, several alternatives are available in the Google Play Store.
Samsung has not specified the exact date in July when the app will stop working. A Samsung spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. After deactivation, Samsung Messages will only support emergency‑service messaging.
Although Samsung stopped making it the default app in 2021, it wasn’t until 2024 that the company ceased pre‑installing Samsung Messages alongside Google Messages. The Galaxy S26 cannot download Samsung Messages, and other devices will lose the ability to install it after the July sunset.
Samsung notes that users on Android 11 or lower are not affected by the service termination, but they would still benefit from moving to a supported app like Google Messages. To make the switch, users should download Google Messages (if not already installed) and set it as the default SMS app when prompted after launching it.
The article also mentions that owners of older Galaxy Watches running Samsung’s Tizen OS will lose access to their full conversation history, as those watches cannot use Google Messages. Samsung says they will still be able to read and send texts, while newer watches (Galaxy Watch 4 and later) running Wear OS will retain full conversation access.