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Samsung Messages ending? What Android owners must know .. Real change, rising scams and how to switch safely
Fox News ^ | April 11, 2026 | Kurt Knutsson

Posted on 07/15/2026 6:20:29 PM PDT by george76

You may be hearing that Samsung Messages is going away, and for many Android users, that's true. Samsung is quietly phasing out its Samsung Messages app and moving people to Google Messages as the default texting platform with a planned cutoff around July 2026 in the U.S.

Newer Galaxy phones already come with Google Messages preinstalled, and Samsung Messages is no longer available to download on many newer devices.

That shift is real. But the way people are finding out about it is causing confusion. For many people, it starts with a text that doesn't feel quite right. They're checking their phone, and suddenly a text pops up warning that their messaging app is going away.

...

Samsung says Samsung Messages will be discontinued and is pushing people to switch to Google Messages. Google Messages is already the default texting app on many Galaxy phones.

...

Google has been pushing RCS, which stands for rich communication services. Think of it as the Android version of iMessage.

...

Scammers know people are already hearing about this change, and they're using that confusion to make their messages look real.

...

This transition is not being communicated in a consistent or highly visible way

...

When tech companies make quiet changes, scammers step in fast. The safest move is simple. Ignore unexpected links, verify everything yourself and make the switch on your terms, not theirs.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Conspiracy; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: android; data; goog; googdata; google; googlemessages; googlesearch; googlespyware; messages; samsung; samsungmessages; spyware
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To: Chickensoup

“Is there another app?”

Best text messaging apps in 2026:

https://www.androidcentral.com/best-text-messaging-apps


21 posted on 07/16/2026 4:18:30 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam ( "Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away". - B. Franklin)
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To: MayflowerMadam

I think the government still uses blackberries, although some greeneyeshaded weenie somewhere will put a stop to that.

There is now something called google assistant which keeps telling me how useful it is and to start using it.

I hate google.


22 posted on 07/16/2026 4:54:27 AM PDT by sauropod (Make sure Satan has to climb over a lot of Scripture to get to you. John MacArthur Ne supra crepidam)
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To: MayflowerMadam

Ai slop

Recommends the messages ap that is being DC d


23 posted on 07/16/2026 5:04:54 AM PDT by Chickensoup
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To: Merrick

It was going to happen anyway, so I made the switch about a month ago. Now when I miss a call and someone leaves a voice mail, it is converted to text and that shows up in my messages.


24 posted on 07/16/2026 5:26:34 AM PDT by Dalberg-Acton
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To: Pez149
It has settings. I went into them and turned off every "suggestion" feature it has.

To find the settings, click on your initial in the circle above the texts next to the search magnifying glass icon above the text messages, then scroll all the way down to "message settings".

-PJ

25 posted on 07/16/2026 5:40:36 AM PDT by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: Chickensoup
I use Textra.
26 posted on 07/16/2026 5:50:40 AM PDT by Semper Vigilantis (Currently experiencing life at too many WTFs per minute.)
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To: sauropod

“I think the government still uses blackberries”

Sadly, BlackBerry ceased to exist for cellular (phone & texts) in January 2022. They still connect to wifi, though, so I do cruise the net with them sometimes. The keyboards are fantastic.


27 posted on 07/16/2026 8:32:38 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam ( "Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away". - B. Franklin)
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To: SuperLuminal

“ Google Messages is totally invasive and has a crappy, amateurish interface...”

I agree. The Samsung Messages worked just fine and didn’t have all these info-seeking features Google has. I hate having to frequently deny permissions and requests from a messaging app. Often the requests have nothing to do with messaging.


28 posted on 07/16/2026 8:42:07 AM PDT by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.)
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To: doorgunner69

“Gargle”
Ha!
.
My point in my screwie Post above is we are chained to These things and I am Not a Computer Geek but we gotta adapt to them.
Short of an Implant or becoming a Hermit in the Gobi Desert I’ll try to Keep Up as Much as I dislike these “Communicators”.
.
‘Beam Me Up !’


29 posted on 07/16/2026 9:24:01 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (Good SCIENCE is Not Faith BUT Curiosity. )
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To: MayflowerMadam

Blackberry !?!
.
Do you have a Stick and a Hollow Log? ;)
😉


30 posted on 07/16/2026 9:26:50 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (Good SCIENCE is Not Faith BUT Curiosity. )
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To: Political Junkie Too

Thanks


31 posted on 07/16/2026 9:28:15 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (Good SCIENCE is Not Faith BUT Curiosity. )
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To: Big Red Badger

“Do you have a Stick and a Hollow Log? ;)”

I have a string and orange juice cans. Does that count?


32 posted on 07/16/2026 9:36:43 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam ( "Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away". - B. Franklin)
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To: Semper Vigilantis

Textra. Thanks I just installed it


33 posted on 07/16/2026 10:16:52 AM PDT by Chickensoup
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To: MayflowerMadam

Ha !
Nice..


34 posted on 07/16/2026 10:23:16 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (Good SCIENCE is Not Faith BUT Curiosity. )
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To: Semper Vigilantis

I like textra better so far


35 posted on 07/16/2026 11:05:49 AM PDT by Chickensoup
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To: george76

No more Galaxy phones for me. Samsung keeps loading locked crapware I don’t want or use.


36 posted on 07/16/2026 11:55:16 AM PDT by aimhigh (1 John 3:23 "And THIS is His commandment . . . . ")
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