Samsung is ending support for its Samsung Messages app for U.S. customers, according to an end-of-service announcement published on the company’s U.S. support website and first reported by The Associated Press.
The notice says Samsung Messages will be discontinued in July. Samsung Messages is the company’s namesake texting app that some users rely on for messaging on Samsung devices running Google’s Android operating system.
To prepare for the shutdown, Samsung told impacted owners of Samsung smartphones and other gadgets to switch to Google Messages in the meantime. The company said the change is aimed at keeping a consistent messaging experience on Android, and the guidance is directed specifically at the U.S. market.
Samsung’s instructions to move users to Google Messages include downloading the Google Messages app from the Play Store if it is not already installed, and setting it as the default messaging app. Samsung also said some users may receive an in-app notification that guides them through the process.
Samsung said the switch to Google Messages would bring access to updates and features tied to Google’s Gemini, including an experimental feature called “Remix” that generates images during conversations, as well as AI-powered reply suggestions. Samsung also pointed to RCS-enabled messaging as a way for users to share higher-quality photos between Android and Apple iOS devices.
The company also addressed potential impact by Android version. Samsung said users on older versions of Android—dating back to Android 11 or older—will not be impacted by the end of Samsung Messages.
For newer devices, Samsung said Galaxy 26 lineup owners and other newer phones cannot download the Samsung Messages app from the Galaxy Store today. Samsung said all devices will no longer be able to download Samsung Messages after the service is officially discontinued in July, and it advised users to check their app for the exact date when service will go offline.