Samsung Messages will be discontinued for Google Messages
Key Points:
- Samsung will discontinue its Messages app in the US by July 2026, directing users to transition to Google Messages with guided in-app notifications and instructions.
- After discontinuation, Samsung Messages will no longer send messages except to emergency contacts, and the app will be removed from the Galaxy Store; Galaxy S26 users already cannot download it.
- The change affects Galaxy devices running Android 12 and newer, while older devices remain unaffected; Samsung Messages will also be discontinued on Tizen OS watches, though basic texting will still be supported.
- Users switching to Google Messages may experience temporary disruptions in RCS conversations on pre-2022 devices, but MMS/SMS will continue to function, and RCS will resume once both parties use Google Messages.
- Google Messages offers enhanced features such as AI-powered scam detection, robust spam filters, cross-platform RCS messaging, and expressive AI tools including smart replies and photo remixing.