Samsung Messages is being phased out in the U.S., with Samsung announcing that the app will be discontinued in July 2026 and users being directed to switch to Google Messages instead.

What changed

Samsungā€™s notice says the app will stop working as a normal texting app after the cutoff date, with only emergency numbers and designated emergency contacts still supported. Reports also say some newer Galaxy devices already canā€™t download Samsung Messages anymore, which suggests the shutdown is being rolled out across devices in stages.

Why it happened

The move appears to be part of Samsungā€™s broader shift toward Google Messages as the default texting app on Galaxy phones, likely to create a more consistent Android messaging experience and lean into RCS features. Coverage from several tech outlets says Samsung announced the change back in April 2026 and later started warning users more directly as the July cutoff approached.

What users should do

  • Switch your default texting app to Google Messages.
  • Check inside Samsung Messages for the exact shutdown date in your region, since Samsung says the app itself may show that notice.
  • If you already use Samsung Messages, move sooner rather than later so you do not get caught off guard when texting stops.

Who is affected

The reports say the shutdown mainly affects U.S. Galaxy users on Android 12 and newer, while devices running Android 11 or older are expected to keep Samsung Messages working. That means older phones may keep the app, but newer Galaxy models are being pushed away from it.

Public reaction

Tech coverage shows a mixed reaction: some users are frustrated that Samsung is ending a long-running native app, while others see the switch as a practical move because Google Messages has become the default on many recent Galaxy devices. A lot of the discussion online has centered on the appā€™s ā€œend of an eraā€ feel rather than on any technical failure.

TL;DR: Samsung Messages is being shut down in July 2026 for most newer Galaxy users in the U.S., and Google Messages is replacing it as the default texting app.