If you own a Samsung phone and live in the US

You need to read this before July ends.

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Your default texting app is about to look completely different. Samsung is removing the preinstalled text messaging app entirely, which means you will not be able to access your text messages unless you switch to another app.

Samsung itself gives the instructions on what to do:

Each Samsung user will receive an in-app notification to guide them through the process. If some of you didn’t receive any, then here’s the process:

1. Go to the Google Play Store, search for Google Messages, download it, and if you already have it, then update it.
2. Then set the Google Messages app as the default in the mobile settings.
3. To clear up any misunderstanding, the Google Messages app is the white icon. Inside, there’s a blue messaging symbol.
4. You will not lose your data; the message can be backed up to Google Messages within 24 hours.

By saying 24 hours, it means that the data can take time to export from one app to another.

Why the sudden change?

The sudden app change isn’t to make Samsung users feel left out of the built-in app. Instead, the change is to bring convenient messaging in an integrated form. Samsung favors Google Messages to upgrade the feature, which includes:

1. RCS (Rich Communication Service): You can share high-quality images with your friends and make group chats.
2. AI-driven spam ID detection.
3. You can remix photos in chat with Google Gemini AI and get suggestions for your next reply with the help of featured AI.
4. Easily switch between tablet and PC, just like WhatsApp.

Who will not get the new upgrade?

Android 11, Galaxy Watch 3, or lower versions will not receive the new update; they will continue using the same Samsung Messages. The only downside is that the Galaxy Watch 3 and older versions will deplete conversation history on the watch; you can still send and receive messages, and on mobile, the app will function as usual. And all these listings will change by July.