Samsung Messages is officially shutting down for good — here's what you need to know

• Samsung Messages is shutting down in July 2026
• The move has been branded "dumb" and "sad"
• Users are being encouraged to use Google Messages

It's time to bid farewell to Samsung Messages: Samsung has announced that it's shutting down the app in the next few months, with users encouraged to make the switch over to Google Messages for their texting needs.

"The Samsung Messages application will be discontinued in July 2026," says Samsung (via 9to5Google). "Upgrade to Google Messages as your default messaging app today to maintain a consistent messaging experience on Android."

This is far from an unexpected move: last year Samsung said it was "sunsetting" Samsung Messages, although the app remained available in the Galaxy Store. Google Messages has been installed by default on both the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S26 phones.

Even if it's no surprise though, there are fans of Samsung Messages who will be disappointed the app is finally going away for good. The Reddit reactions include users saying "this is so dumb" and labeling the move "sad" and "annoying".

Making the switch

Samsung says you can get an exact date for the shutdown by opening up the Samsung Messages app on your phone. It's also provided instructions for switching to Google Messages, which you may need to download from the Play Store.

The first time you open up Google Messages, you should see a pop-up asking if you want to make it the default texting app. You can also do this by heading to Apps > Choose default apps from Settings.

"Once the Samsung Messages app is discontinued, sending messages via Samsung Messages on your phone will no longer be possible, except for emergency service numbers or emergency contacts defined in your device," says Samsung.

Samsung mentions the benefits of Google Messages on its support page, including full support for the RCS standard and (of course) various AI features. You can also opt to switch to third-party alternatives for messaging, including Pulse.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.