Samsung discontinuing its texting app, tells users to switch to Google Messages

[BumRushDaShow]

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.

[hlthe2b]

1. And THIS is why I stick with IPhone (Apple) products. Obviously never say never with any company

but the level of backlash for Apple if they tried to do this would be seismic.

[C Moon]

11. My mother in law has a Galaxy.

She has installed a couple of apps that take over the phone with ads and installed about 20 new apps. I knew nothing about Samsung, but finally figured out how to get it back to its original state. I hate that phone.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. I have an iPhone 17 Pro as a daily driver

Got it last fall to replace my old iPhone 12 Pro.

But Apple may do something with Siri equivalent to this eventually (I don't use Siri though).

[ananda]

30. I've been Apple only since 1992.

It's been great the whole time.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. That is some really deep sh*t. Took Gemini to dish that really IS the 3-dot icon that handles

text messages. What are we supposed to do about saved TXT's? How is the transition being made? That's the only thing that works well on my phone. SamDung browser sucks big time, but it's smaller than Chrome.

[AZJonnie]

13. If you don't already have Google Messages app on your phone, you install it from the Play Store

Then you set google messages as the default messaging app in your phone. That's the transition. All old texts are still there, it's just a more feature-rich interface (shows you indicator that the other user is typing, for instance, which Samsung messenger does not).

Also FYI for all, there's one "AI" feature that may "phone home", and that is the "Magic Compose" feature. IOW when you use this feature to write for you, it may reach out to the cloud (by default) and send it up to 20 of your recent messages in order to "compose" your message for you (personally have never used, don't imagine I will, ever).

Important Caveats: When I say it "may", here's what that means:
1) If you have an S23 or older Samsung, Magic Compose will always send messages to cloud *IF* you use the Magic Compose feature. The processor itself lacks AICore, so no ability to process your texts locally.
2) If you have an S24, Magic Compose *may* be setup currently to send messages to cloud *IF* you use the Magic Compose feature, BUT you have an option to set it to send your recent texts to Gemini Nano (which is a purely local AI engine i.e. nothing is sent to the cloud for processing, it's done on your phone itself), you just may have to tweak a setting to enable Nano instead. Apparently some S24's handset will default differently from others, probably based on when the phone was made (later ones will already be set to Gemini Nano).
3) If you have an S25 or S26, Gemini Nano is the DEFAULT AI engine for Messenger, so you don't have to do anything to keep your texts 100% local even if you use Magic Compose.

[bucolic_frolic]

16. Thanks, I got that far. Love the default setting where it says

Do you want to use Messages as your default app instead of Messages?

Afraid to remove from Home Screen. Last time I did that it took 45 minutes to find it again

[2naSalit]

3. Guess I won't be texting anymore...

I refuse to add any fucking ggooglie on my phone, fuck that shit. They just want to be able to eavesdrop on your conversations and filter out those of us who say certain things.

Not participating.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

4. Android is Google

[2naSalit]

8. Guess I'll be going back to a landline then.

[Polybius]

25. As my wonderful mom used to say, "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face"

I sure do miss her.

[2naSalit]

27. It would be about the same as it is now...

For me. I leave the evil device at home when I go out as often as not. It's not that much of a convenience for me so cutting off my nose to spite my face has actually been more benefit than detriment.

I don't care to help facilitate the demise of life on earth by being a part of the in crowd since I was never a member. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about it either.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Great entrepreneur opportunity for carrier pigeon redux.

Could probably charge $10 a secure message. No fuel, the birds do all the work.

[Chrysanthemum]

39. Bird food as fuel will be required, though. (n/t)

[yellow dahlia]

29. Looks like I will have to get a new phone.

I don't want to give Googley any more access to my data than they already have.

I just had to figure out how to remove Gemini from my emails.

Aarrgh! I try to stay away from adding apps.

[ToxMarz]

6. Google Messages is the far superior option, they are doing you a favor.

Google Messages pushed the carrier adoption of RCS over their sub par proprietary messaging that locked users to their service.

Breif history:

Google did not "force" RCS (Rich Communication Services) on carriers in a legal or regulatory sense, but they did use a "bypass" strategy to effectively make carrier refusal irrelevant for Android users.
Initially, Google waited for carriers to adopt the RCS Universal Profile, but when adoption stalled, they took several aggressive steps to ensure the service reached users:

1. The "Google Guest" Bypass
In 2019, after years of carrier delays, Google began rolling out RCS directly to users via the Google Messages app. If a carrier didn't support RCS, Google provided the backend infrastructure (through its Jibe platform) themselves, bypassing the carrier's network for the rich features. This meant users could get "Chat features" (typing indicators, high-res photos) as long as they used Google's app, regardless of their carrier's stance.

2. Strategic Partnerships
Instead of forcing carriers, Google made it easier for them to "join" rather than "build." Major US carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon eventually scrapped their own failed RCS projects and partnered with Google to use Jibe as their official backend.

3. Making Google Messages the Default
Google worked with manufacturers like Samsung to make Google Messages the default messaging app on new devices. This centralized the user base, making it less profitable for carriers to maintain separate, incompatible messaging standards.

Current Status: Handing Control Back
As of late 2025 and 2026, reports indicate Google has started removing the "Google Guest" bypass in many regions. Because most major carriers now officially support RCS (partly to ensure compatibility with Apple's recent adoption of the standard), Google is handing the responsibility for RCS back to the carriers. This has caused issues for some users on smaller carriers that never officially signed on.

[Mr.Bee]

18. I got news for you

If you're getting a text or texting,
you are already using Google Messages.
Look at the top of your screen.
You don't have to do anything else,
unless you want the bloatware!

[Omaha Steve]

7. This is what Marta and I use

[Arrgh]

9. Same thing with their security cameras

I had three that were pretty good, decent cloud storage and/or local to micro sd, good iOS app. A few years ago they pulled all support, no way to use them at all. No advance announcements, no alternatives. No response to customer complaints.

To be fair, no company will support legacy hardware/software in perpetuity, but to yank it all at once is bad PR at least. I will never buy Samsung again.

[Deminpenn]

10. Verizon discontinued their message app

a couple year ago in favor of Google messages and it's been fine. They have an AI thingy called Gemini, but you don't have to use it.

[Intractable]

14. One thing I like about Google messages is that there are Windows web browser extensions

that enable texting from the computer.

It's easy for me to use cut and paste, or do things like attach and save images to and from texts.

It synchs with the phone.

[Polybius]

24. On Windows 11 with Phone Link, it works with Samsung Messages too

I use it all the time, and even found it worked better before I switched to Google Messages.

[sir pball]

28. You don't need any extensions...

If you use Chrome and are signed in with the same Google account you use on your phone, you can just go to this website and message, it syncs with your phone and everything.

[Intractable]

31. You use chrome? No privacy for you, eh?

As said, any browser can do this with an extension.

[sir pball]

43. I have a comprehensive host file based blacklist.

The only tracking I get is from what I actually click. It makes for a great online experience, truth be told.

DM me and I can show you how

[Chrysanthemum]

40. Thanks!

Thanks for this message; I didn't know that. So I went exploring and discovered that I didn't even need an extension! All I had to do was type messages.google.com in a browser address bar. Thought I'd add that for anyone following this conversation. Thanks again! It's so much easier typing on my computer.

[Intractable]

42. Thanks! Going to messages.google.com works, and makes more sense than anything I said, here.

[LeftInTX]

15. Well, there are lots of apps that call themselves Google Messages on Google Play

Watch out...

Go directly to Google's website.
I just found out the hard way!
I ended up downloading two of them!
They were spammy.

Then I went to Google's website, where they link to the download. (The download still is on Google Play, but they link to the correct one)

Now I have to delete those other two messaging apps...grrh...

[Mr.Bee]

20. Android 16

comes with Google Messages already installed.

[LeftInTX]

22. Yes, but have a Samsung 10. I finally got the right

app

[Mr.Bee]

17. My 4G phone was GREAT!

My 5G phone sucks ASS!
and only works reception-wise if I'm holding it!
I had to do a factory reset to get rid of all the bloatware.
and just tell notifications to GO AWAY!
I only need a phone
I only need texting
I only need internet
nothing more!

[GenThePerservering]

34. Cross posted. nt

[Quanto Magnus]

19. I stopped using Samsung phone long ago...

due to their bloatware.....

Why did they have to add a whole other layer of apps that were already native to the OS? Data collection advantage is my guess.

[Mr.Bee]

21. Well maybe I should explain a few things

I'm retired techie.
So I only need internet access tether to my computer.
I don't use the phone or voicemail, and tell anyone sent a text.
That's it. I don't need any of this other stuff loaded in the OS.
How do I know that it's in the OS?
Because I did a factory reset and saw everything that loads with the OS.
My first mistake was thing I had to install the updates, which brings back tons of bloatware!

Second factory reset.
destroy all notifications (turn off)
don't worry, everything comes back if you restart.
So don't fall for the updates. Don't reinstall them.
swipe down on the left side of screen
and turn off all notifications.

[Polybius]

23. I too have a Z Fold!

I have the Z Fold 5. I used to love Samsung Messages, but switched to Google about a year ago.

[BumRushDaShow]

26. My Z Fold 3 was an update to my Note 9 which was an update to an old S4, which was an update to a HTC Touch

Meanwhile, I have had parallel iPhones to the above - from the iPhone 4S to the iPhone 6+ to the iPhone 12 Pro to my current iPhone 17 Pro.

(had some older flips including one of the early Samsungs with a black and white LCD screen then a Motorola ic902 (after Sprint had merged with Nextel and I wanted the "walkie talkie" feature) -



I could side-load stuff on that and it ran Opera great as a browser! My old eyes can't read that tiny screen anymore but still...

[hunter]

32. I hope I never have to use a "message app."

My little flip phone probably runs text messages through some kind of hidden "app" specific to the phone, but otherwise my use of text messages hasn't changed since I first got a cell phone about twenty years ago.

[Tetrachloride]

33. Signal or Session

[ProfessorGAC]

35. Got That Message Yesterday

Pretty annoying.
Google makes a phone. If I wanted a Google phone I would have bought one instead of a Samsung.
At least it automatically imported all my contacts. But, that's modest consolation.

[BumRushDaShow]

36. Android is an OS done by Google

and that is basically what most non-Apple phones run.

[ProfessorGAC]

37. Did Not Know That

Was unaware Android OS was a Google product.
I learned something new.

[BumRushDaShow]

38. It was originally taken from open source software

and they grabbed the (free as in beer) code and tweaked it for themselves.

(ETA - it uses a Linux kernel)

[JustKay]

41. Ugh! Google messages stink. I'll go with Textra.