Overview
- Samsung shut down the Samsung Messages app in the United States on July 6, 2026 for devices running Android 12 or newer, leaving the app in an emergency-only state for calls and emergency texts.
- Samsung is directing U.S. Galaxy users to install and set Google Messages as the default app, and Samsung says message history will transfer automatically when users switch.
- Newer flagships such as the Galaxy S26 line and recent foldables were shipped without Samsung Messages and cannot reinstall it, while devices running Android 11 or older remain unaffected.
- Temporary workarounds — like uninstalling updates or disabling auto-updates — can restore limited Samsung Messages function on some older devices but are not recommended because they leave phones without future security fixes.
- Samsung frames the change as a technical realignment to provide unified RCS messaging, better spam and scam detection, cross-device sync and Google AI features, and the company says the shutdown is currently limited to the U.S.