Samsung to Discontinue Messages App, Directing Galaxy Users to Google Messages

Samsung has officially announced that its Samsung Messages app will be discontinued, marking a major shift for Galaxy phone users. The move is part of Samsung’s effort to encourage a more consistent messaging experience across Android devices, with Google Messages positioned as the recommended replacement.

According to Samsung’s support page, the company is steering users toward Google Messages to ensure continued access to modern messaging features, including RCS support and other improvements that better align with the Android ecosystem. The change signals the end of Samsung’s long-running native messaging app, which has been a default option on many Galaxy devices for years.

For many users, the biggest impact will be the transition from Samsung Messages to Google Messages as the default texting app. Samsung is framing the switch as a way to deliver a more unified experience with better compatibility and feature support.

The discontinuation is expected to roll out in July 2026, giving Galaxy users time to adjust before Samsung Messages is phased out completely. Users who still rely on the app should begin preparing to move their conversations and preferences to Google Messages ahead of the cutoff.