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  "path": "/tech/samsung-galaxy-messages-app-update",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-07T09:54:04.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra, which were launched earlier this year",
    "via a post on its US website",
    "MacBook Neo is Apple's most affordable laptop ever",
    "Freely strikes deal with Roku to bring its Freeview successor to more TVs",
    "ExpressVPN review",
    "Virgin Media users gain 3 new TV channels, and watching won't cost a penny",
    "Sky Glass Gen 2 review",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\n\nSamsung will cull a popular messaging platform on its Galaxy phones this summer. Samsung Messages, which has been installed on Galaxy devices as the default way to send texts since 2009, will be discontinued in July 2026.\n\nThe namesake rival to the likes of WhatsApp and iMessage is no longer available to download on the latest lineup of Samsung smartphones, **the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra, which were launched earlier this year**. For owners of older Galaxy handsets, this block will roll-out across these hugely-popular Android devices in July.\n\nSamsung confirmed plans to retire its Samsung Messages app **via a post on its US website**. At the time of writing, the South Korean firm says this change will _only_ apply to Galaxy users in the United States. It's unclear whether other markets, like the UK, will experience the same shake-up at a later date — or not at all.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIf you're living Stateside with a Samsung Galaxy in your pocket, Samsung advises switching to **Google Messages** before July 2026 to continue to be able to send and receive text messages, photos, and videos.\n\nFor those who don't know, Google Messages is available to download via Google Play Store, although Samsung has been preinstalling this popular messaging service alongside its own app since the debut of the Galaxy S21 lineup five years ago.\n\nIf you have a relatively recent Samsung Galaxy device, chances are, it's already available on your handset. You might already be using this chat app for your messages and group chats.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * MacBook Neo is Apple's most affordable laptop ever\n  * **Freely strikes deal with Roku to bring its Freeview successor to more TVs**\n  * ExpressVPN review\n  * **Virgin Media users gain 3 new TV channels, and watching won't cost a penny**\n  * **Sky Glass Gen 2 review**\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSamsung says moving over to this service — created and developed by Google, the brand behind the operating system that powers Galaxy devices — will ensure \"a consistent messaging experience on Android.\" Galaxy owners in the US should check the Samsung Message app for the exact date when the messaging platform will go offline.\n\nGoogle Messages supports RCS, which lets you share high-quality photos and videos, supports WhatsApp-like group chat features, and brings real-time typing indicators to your text messages across Android and iOS. This standard means those with green bubbles shouldn't expect an inferior experience.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nGoogle has also introduced AI-powered scam detection and robust spam filters to quickly identify and block suspicious texts — keeping your inbox clean and your personal information safer. Chats are available across your phone, tablet, and smartwatch without interruption, with all messages synchronised.\n\nThe latest Google Gemini features, like an experimental new trick called “Remix” to generate images during conversations and AI-powered reply suggestions, come to Google Messages before other text apps.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nOwners of Galaxy devices running Android 11 or older operating systems will not be impacted by the discontinuation of Samsung Messages. You'll need to upgrade to a new Samsung Galaxy device to be automatically switched to Google Messages as the new standard for text messages, group chats, and more.\n\nUnsure whether this applies to you? The quickest way to check the Android version running on your Samsung Galaxy is to launch the **Settings** app, scroll down and tap on **About Phone > Software Information**. You can also use the search icon in the **Settings** app and type \"Software information\" for direct access.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Popular messaging app discontinued on Galaxy phones, as Samsung tells some users to update"
}