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Samsung is ending its messaging app sometime in July.
Android 12 or newer users must switch to Google Messages.
Back up your messages to Samsung Cloud or Google Drive.
The reckoning is here. Well, almost here, and maybe a little less dramatic than I'm describing. Samsung recently confirmed that it'll be shuttering its own Messages app in favor of Google's, requiring users on Samsung phones running Android 12 or newer to make the swap in July if they haven't done so already.
This sunsetting marks a nearly 16-year run for the proprietary communication platform, one that has built quite the cult following over time. But no one should be surprised to see this coming. Just two years ago, Samsung began shipping its latest Galaxy phones with Google Messages set as the default messaging app. More recently, you wouldn't even be able to download the Samsung Messages app on phones like the Galaxy S26 series.
Also: Samsung is ending Messages in July: 5 replacements I'd switch to now
So, what gives? There are plenty of unofficial theories behind the transition, but the prevailing assumption is simple: Samsung no longer wants the burden of managing its own messaging servers. It makes more sense to hand the reins to Google, which has steadily built a platform home to billions of Android users. Between the practical, security, and financial ramifications, the move just makes sense for the business.
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