Key Highlights:

• Older Android 11 and earlier devices will not be affected.
• Samsung Messages will be discontinued in July 2026.
• Users are being asked to switch to Google Messages.
• New AI features and RCS upgrades are part of the transition.

Samsung will discontinue its Samsung Messages app in July 2026. The company confirmed the move through a support notice, asking users to switch to Google Messages to maintain a consistent Android messaging experience.

The shift reflects a broader strategy to align Galaxy devices more closely with Google’s messaging ecosystem. As a result, newer phones already block downloads of Samsung Messages.

Why is Samsung discontinuing Messages?

Samsung says the change aims to standardize messaging across Android devices. Therefore, users will increasingly rely on Google Messages as the default communication app.

This transition also unlocks newer features. For instance, Google Messages supports Gemini-powered tools such as smart replies and experimental image generation inside conversations. It also improves cross-platform media sharing through RCS.

As Android messaging evolves, Samsung appears to be stepping back from maintaining a parallel app experience.

What should users do before July 2026?

The companyadvises users to switch to Google Messages before support ends. In many cases, the app is already preinstalled on Galaxy phones. However, if it is missing, users can download it from the Play Store and set it as default.

Some users may also receive in-app alerts guiding them through the migration process. These prompts explain how to transfer conversations smoothly.

Importantly, Samsung says users can check their Samsung Messages app to see the exact shutdown timeline for their device.

Which Galaxy phones are affected?

The biggest impact will be on newer Galaxy smartphones. In fact, devices such as the latest Galaxy 26 series already cannot download Samsung Messages from the Galaxy Store.

Meanwhile, phones running Android 11 or earlier will continue using the app without disruption. Samsung confirmed those devices fall outside the transition plan.

Still, once July arrives, the app will disappear from download listings entirely.

What new features come with Google Messages?

Switching apps does more than replace one messaging interface with another. Instead, it introduces new communication capabilities powered by artificial intelligence and RCS.

For example, Gemini integration enables suggested replies and experimental creative tools such as “Remix,” which generates images during chats. Additionally, RCS improves photo and video quality when messaging across Android and iOS devices.

These upgrades position Google Messages as the primary communication platform for future Galaxy devices.

Will the change affect users outside the United States?

So far, Samsung has only confirmed the shutdown timeline through its U.S. support documentation. However, the company has not clarified whether the same rollout schedule applies globally.

That uncertainty leaves international Galaxy users waiting for regional guidance.

Still, the broader direction appears clear. Samsung is consolidating messaging around Google’s ecosystem. As July approaches, Samsung Messages will quietly exit the lineup, marking another step in Samsung’s shift toward a unified Android messaging experience.