Samsung discontinuing its texting app, tells users to switch to Google Messages [View all]

Source: ABC News/AP

April 6, 2026, 10:59 AM


NEW YORK -- Samsung is saying goodbye its namesake texting app.

According to an end of service announcement published on the tech giant's U.S. support website, Samsung Messages will be discontinued in July. Impacted owners of Samsung smartphones and other gadgets are being asked to switch to Google Messages in the meantime, “to maintain a consistent messaging experience on Android.”

All Samsung Galaxy phones run on Google's Android operating system. To switch to Google Messages, Samsung's website gives users instructions to download the app from the Play Store, if not already on their phone, and set it as the default. Some people may also receive an in-app notification to guide them through the process.

Samsung says switching to Google Messages will give users access to updates like the latest artificial intelligence features from Google's Gemini — which includes an experimental feature called “Remix” to generate images during conversations and AI-powered reply suggestions — and the ability to share higher quality photos between Android and Apple iOS devices through RCS-enabled messages.

Read more: https://abcnews.com/Technology/wireStory/samsung-discontinuing-texting-app-tells-impacted-users-switch-131766567

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I have one of Samsung's "Z Fold" phones and just opened it up and it had done a software update and trying "Messages" displayed their warning screen about it being discontinued and giving the option to switch to Google Messages (the screen also said it would transfer any messages over to that app once selecting to go with the other message app). Will try to make sure to disable any AI shit that it has settings that can be changed once I go ahead.