Overview
- Samsung posted an End of Service notice for Samsung Messages in the U.S., setting a July 2026 cutoff and directing users to make Google Messages their default app.
- After the cutoff, Samsung Messages will no longer send texts except to emergency numbers or device-designated emergency contacts.
- The app will be removed from the Galaxy Store after July, and Galaxy S26 owners are already blocked from downloading Samsung Messages.
- Samsung will guide the switch with in‑app prompts, and on Android 14 or newer the Google Messages icon moves to the dock automatically, while Android 12–13 require manual placement and Android 11 or lower are not affected.
- Pre‑2022 Galaxy phones may see ongoing RCS chats pause when switching apps, though SMS/MMS keep working and RCS resumes once both sides use Google Messages, and Tizen watches lose full thread history but still allow reading and sending texts.