The company explained that the app will be discontinued starting in July, according to a notice published on its US support website, urging users to switch to the alternative app to ensure a smooth messaging experience that is compatible with system updates.
To facilitate this transition, Samsung indicated that users should download the Google Messages app from the Play Store if it is not already installed, and then set it as the default messaging app, with the possibility of internal notifications guiding them through the transition steps.
The company explained that using Google Messages provides advanced advantages, most notably the artificial intelligence features of Google Gemini, such as creating images during conversations via the "Remix" feature, suggesting smart replies, in addition to improving the quality of sharing images between Android and iOS devices via the RCS protocol (a modern messaging standard that aims to develop traditional text messages (SMS and MMS) and make them closer to the experience of chat applications like "WhatsApp").
In contrast, Samsung confirmed that devices running Android 11 or earlier versions will not be affected by this change, and users of some newer phones, such as the Galaxy S26 series, will not be able to download the Samsung Messages app from the Galaxy Store at this time.
The company added that after the date set in July, the application will no longer be available for download on any device, noting that users can view the service discontinuation date from within the application itself.
Samsung has not yet clarified whether this move will be implemented globally, as it has not issued an official response on the matter outside of the United States.
