PSA: Samsung Messages is going away soon

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more. Mobile PSA: Samsung Messages is going away soon Still using Samsung Messages? Time is running out to make the switch. By Shimul Sood • 17 minutes ago • 0 • Joe Maring / Android Authority Follow us on Google Discover Add us as preferred source TL;DR Samsung Messages will be discontinued in July 2026, making now the right time for Galaxy users to switch if they haven’t already. The move to Google Messages gives Galaxy users access to RCS (again), with features like read receipts, typing indicators, and better group chats. Switching takes just a few taps, though message migration can take up to 24 hours. Samsung Messages has been living on borrowed time for a while now. If you’re still using it, this is your cue to start thinking about what comes next. A couple of months ago, Samsung confirmed it would discontinue Samsung Messages in July 2026. At the time, there was plenty of breathing room before the deadline arrived. Now that July is about to begin, that deadline is no longer something Galaxy users can comfortably ignore. The good news is that, for many people, the transition has already happened without them even realizing it. Samsung has spent the past couple of years nudging Galaxy users toward Google Messages , making it the default messaging app on newer devices. If you’ve upgraded to a recent Galaxy phone, like a Galaxy S26 series device, there’s a good chance you’ve been using Google Messages all along. That gradual shift wasn’t simply Samsung retiring one app in favor of another. It was part of a bigger move toward a better messaging experience. Google Messages is built on RCS (Rich Communication Services), the modern successor to SMS, bringing features like read receipts, typing indicators, group chats with proper support, emoji reactions, and higher-quality photo and video sharing. If you’ve ever used WhatsApp, the experience will feel instantly familiar. Samsung’s app also supporte