If Samsung Messages remains to be your default texting app, maintain studying. The app is being deactivated for US customers, and the texts, RCS conversations and message historical past sitting in it do not mechanically switch anyplace. It is all transferring to Google Messages, and the migration is genuinely easy, however easy does not imply automated.
The steps that protect your textual content historical past are ones you must take your self, earlier than the deadline, and the longer you wait, the extra possible it’s that one thing will get left behind.
On a web page with details about the swap, Samsung hyperlinks to directions on switching to Google’s Messages app, together with for telephones nonetheless on Android 12 and Android 13. Samsung has traditionally included its personal Messages app on Galaxy telephones, however started transitioning towards Google Messages as early as 2021.
To encourage folks to modify to Google Messages, Samsung’s directions record new options, reminiscent of typing indicators, simpler group chats and the power to ship higher-quality photographs. Google’s Messages app additionally has AI-powered spam detection and filters, multi-device entry to messages, and a few built-in Gemini AI options.
It is also the app that the majority Android telephones use as their default texting app, together with Samsung’s more moderen Galaxy S26. There are different SMS texting app options within the Google Play Retailer should you do not wish to use the one made by Google.
Samsung hasn’t mentioned when precisely in July messaging will now not work within the app. A Samsung consultant did not reply to a request for remark. As soon as the app is deactivated, solely messaging to emergency companies will work on Samsung Messages.
Whereas the telephone maker stopped together with it because the default texting app in 2021, it wasn’t till 2024 that Samsung stopped preinstalling it alongside Google Messages. The Galaxy S26 cannot obtain the Samsung Messages app, and different telephones will not be capable to obtain it after the app’s July sundown.
Samsung mentioned customers of Android 11 or decrease aren’t affected by the top of service, however would additionally possible profit from switching to a supported texting app like Google Messages. To modify to Google Messages, the corporate asks customers to obtain the app if it is not already put in and to set it because the default SMS app when prompted after launching it.
The put up additionally notes that anybody utilizing an older Galaxy Watch operating Samsung’s Tizen working system will now not have entry to their full dialog historical past, as these watches can’t use Google Messages. Samsung mentioned that they are going to nonetheless be capable to learn and ship textual content messages, however the firm’s newer watches (Galaxy Watch 4 and later) that run WearOS will nonetheless have entry to full conversations.
