Google Messages Now Default in Galaxy Devices as Samsung Retires Messages App
In Focus
- Samsung’s Messages app will shut down in July 2026
- Google Messages will be default messages app in Samsung devices
- The company stopped pre-installing the app in Galaxy devices in 2024
Samsung is shutting down its Messages app in July 2026. To maintain consistent messaging on Android, the smartphone giant has asked users to make Google Messages their default messaging app. Following the shutdown of the Samsung Messages app in 2026, Google Messages will be preinstalled on new devices.
Samsung Messages Does Not Work on S26 Series
Samsung’s Galaxy phones messaging app change means that users won’t be able to download the app from the Galaxy Store after the shutdown date. Newer devices, including the Galaxy S26 series, do not support Samsung Messages.
Galaxy S26 series, which the company touted as an agentic AI phone, launched earlier this year during the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event. After the Samsung Messages shutdown date, users can only send emergency messages.
“Sending messages via Samsung Messages on your phone will no longer be possible, except for emergency service numbers or emergency contacts defined in your device,” Samsung stated in the notice.
The shutdown of the Samsung Messages app has been in the pipeline for years. The tech giant signaled the phase-out back in 2024 when it stopped pre-installing the app on Galaxy devices. Samsung is retiring its Messages app at a time when it is focusing on integrating AI features into 800 million devices this year.
How Can Users Shift to Google Messages?
The South Korean tech giant is making it seamless for users to switch from Samsung to Google Messages. The company said users will get an in-app notification to help them switch to Google Messages with ease. Users can complete the switch by following the instructions in the notifications.
To get the latest features, Samsung advises users to download Google Messages from the Play Store. Here are the steps to follow to manually make Google Messages default on Samsung:
- Download Google Messages
- Tap on the ‘Set default SMS app’ button
- Tap the Google Messages icon
- Select ‘Set as default’
This process is different for users who use Android 12 or 13. Samsung said for these versions, the Google Messages icon does not shift to the home screen automatically once the switch is completed. To fix this, the company advised users to follow the following steps to move the icon to the home screen:
- Long-press the Samsung Messages icon and tap ‘Remove’
- Find the Google Messages app, long-press it, then select ‘Add to Home’
- Drag the Google Messages icon to the home screen dock
- Google Messages should appear on the dock
Why Does the Messaging App Switch Matter?
The latest messaging app switch gives users access to AI features. In recent years, Samsung has been integrating AI capabilities in its smartphones in a bid to stay ahead of the competition. Recently, the company added a Perplexity AI assistant to its Galaxy S26 smartphone lineup as part of its plan to build a multi-agent ecosystem.
Samsung says that switching to Google Messages could disrupt RCS chats briefly on some devices released before 2022. However, conversations will resume as soon as both users switch to Google Messages.
