Samsung confirmed it will retire its native Messages app in July 2026, directing Galaxy owners to adopt Google Messages as the default SMS client. After the cutoff, the Samsung app will only route emergency numbers and contacts, and it will disappear from the Galaxy Store. Devices stuck on Android 11 or older keep the legacy app.

Back in 2024 Samsung stopped pre‑installing Messages on flagship phones, a subtle hint that the service was being phased out. The July deadline aligns with the company’s broader push to streamline software and let Google drive messaging innovation, promising faster feature rolls and tighter RCS integration.

Users will see in‑app prompts guiding them to download Google Messages and set it as the default. The switch is a single tap: open the new app, tap “Set as default,” and the system migrates SMS handling. Some pre‑2022 models may experience brief RCS hiccups until both parties move to the new platform.

By ceding the messaging layer to Google, Samsung ensures its devices receive the latest AI‑enhanced features and multi‑device syncing without maintaining a separate codebase. For consumers, the transition means no loss of core texting capability, just a shift to a more universally supported app across Android ecosystems.