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Samsung is discontinuing its texting app,
tells impacted users to switch to Google Messages
[April 07, 2026]
NEW YORK (AP) — Samsung is saying goodbye its namesake texting
app.
According to an end of service announcement published on the tech
giant's U.S. support website, Samsung Messages will be discontinued in
July. Impacted owners of Samsung smartphones and other gadgets are being
asked to switch to Google Messages in the meantime, “to maintain a
consistent messaging experience on Android.” |
Samsung unveils its latest Galaxy smartphones during a showcase in San
Francisco, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Haven Daley, File) |
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All
Samsung Galaxy phones run on Google's Android operating system.
To switch to Google Messages, Samsung's website gives users
instructions to download the app from the Play Store, if not
already on their phone, and set it as the default. Some people
may also receive an in-app notification to guide them through
the process.
Samsung says switching to Google Messages will give users access
to updates like the latest artificial intelligence features from
Google's Gemini — which includes an experimental feature called
“Remix” to generate images during conversations and AI-powered
reply suggestions — and the ability to share higher quality
photos between Android and Apple iOS devices through RCS-enabled
messages.
Users of older Android operating systems (dating back to Android
11 or older) will not be impacted by the end of Samsung
Messages, the company noted. To check what Android OS you have
on a Samsung device, open the settings app, click on “software
information” and scroll to “Android version.”
Meanwhile, owners of Samsung's latest Galaxy 26 lineup and other
newer phones cannot download the Samsung Messages app from the
Galaxy Store today.
All devices will no longer be able to download Samsung Messages
after it's officially discontinued in July, the company noted.
Samsung said users can check their app for the exact date for
when service will go offline.
Beyond the U.S., Samsung did not immediately respond to a
request for further information about whether its guidance for
Samsung Messages was the same globally.
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