For years, Samsung Messages was the familiar blue bubble on Galaxy phones—a simple, reliable app for SMS and MMS. But the era is ending. Samsung has confirmed that Samsung Messages will be discontinued in July 2026, urging users to switch to Google Messages as their default texting app.
Why the Change?
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Google Messages is now standard: New Galaxy devices like the S25 series, Z Fold6, and Z Flip6 already ship with Google Messages pre-installed.
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RCS support: Google Messages brings Rich Communication Services (RCS), offering features like read receipts, typing indicators, higher-quality media sharing, and end-to-end encryption.
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Unified ecosystem: Samsung is aligning with Google’s messaging strategy, reducing fragmentation across Android devices.
Who’s Affected?
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Modern Galaxy owners: If you’re on Android 12 or newer, expect the transition.
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Older devices (Android 11 or lower): You’ll still have Samsung Messages, unaffected by the shutdown.
Community Reactions
Not everyone is thrilled. Some users lament losing Samsung-specific features like multi-select for conversations, while others argue Google’s app feels “boring” compared to Samsung’s design. Still, the broader Android community sees this as a necessary step toward consistency and better cross-device communication.
What You Should Do
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Open Samsung Messages and check the exact discontinuation date for your device.
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Switch to Google Messages now to get familiar with its features before the July cutoff.
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Explore RCS features—group chats, high-res media, and secure messaging—that make Google Messages more than just SMS.
To switch to Google Messages manually, please take the following steps:1. Open or download Google Messages. The first time you open the app, a message appears: “To use Messages, make it your default SMS app."2. Tap the ’Set default SMS app’ button.3. Select Google Messages. Google Messages is the white icon with the blue conversation bubble.4. Tap ’Set as default’.5. Google Messages is now your default messaging app.
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