Joe Maring / Android Authority
TL; DR
- Samsung has officially shut down Samsung Messages in the US, leaving the text field grayed out and forcing a switch to Google Messages.
- As a temporary solution, users can uninstall updates and disable automatic app updates to restore functionality, but this is not recommended as a permanent measure. Switching to other text programs is recommended.
- Newer devices like the Galaxy S25 and S26 and the latest Z Fold/Flip foldables lack the firmware entirely, meaning the solution won’t work on them. These devices will need to sideload an older software release to restore functionality.
If you’re still using Samsung Messages and tried to open the app today, you’d be in for a rude shock. There is a Samsung Close the Samsung Messages app in the USas previously reported. Since the text field is now grayed out, you can no longer use it to send text (you can still use it with the workarounds mentioned later). If you’re scratching your head about what to do next, it’s time to switch to Google Messages.
Samsung Messages users should switch to Google Messages
To switch to Google Messages, simply download the app and set it as your default messaging app:
- Download Google Messages From the Play Store.
- When you open the app for the first time, a message appears: “Make it your default SMS app to use messages.” “Set the default SMS application” button.
- Select Google Messages. Google Messages is a white icon with a blue chat bubble.
- Click “Set as default.”
All your chats and messages should be automatically transferred between Samsung Messages and Google Messages after a while.
You can still use Samsung Messages with this workaround, but you shouldn’t
Samsung has made it clear that there is no future for the Samsung Messages app, so we advise all users to come to terms with this decision and switch to another app immediately.
However, if you still want to continue using Samsung Messages, you can uninstall software updates to bring it back to a functional state:
- go to Settings > Apps > Samsung Messages (or just Messages) > More options and click on “Remove updates.”
- open Galaxy Storego to Menu > Updates > Samsung Messages > More optionsand remove the “Enable automatic update” option.
After following these steps, Samsung Messages will work as usual and you will be able to send texts. However, the big caveat here is that Samsung Messages is officially discontinued and no longer supported. The app may contain bugs or security issues that affect the US market and will never be fixed. You should only use this workaround as a temporary, non-stop solution to confirm that all your chats and messages are being transferred to another texting app, such as Google Messages.
Uninstalling updates or deleting data from Samsung Messages (or Google Messages) will not delete or affect your text messages.
Note that newer phones like the Galaxy S25 series, S26 series, Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, Z Fold 7, and Z Flip 7 don’t come pre-loaded with Samsung Messages in the first place, so this workaround won’t work because the stock firmware won’t have the main app to roll back to. You will need to sideload the old release to get it working again.
The suspension is also limited to the US market. Other regions should be able to continue using Samsung Messages. Since Samsung’s decision to stop the app is permanent, don’t count on new software releases becoming operational again in the US. Time to move on.
Thank you for being a part of our community. Read our Comment Policy before deployment.
