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- Samsung is shutting down its messaging app sometime in July.
- Android 12 or newer users should switch to Google Messages.
- Back up your messages to Samsung Cloud or Google Drive.
The countdown is here. Well, almost here, and maybe a little more than I’m describing. Samsung recently confirmed that it will shut down its Messages program in favor of Google, requiring users on Samsung phones running Android 12 or newer to make the switch in July if they haven’t already.
This sunset marks nearly 16 years for the proprietary social media platform, which has built a cult following over time. But no one should be surprised to see this coming. Just two years ago, Samsung started shipping its latest Galaxy phones with Google Messages set as the default messaging app. Lately, you wouldn’t even be able to download the Samsung Messages app on phones like the Galaxy S26 series.
Also: Samsung ends Messages in July: 5 replacements I can switch to now
So, what gives? There are many unofficial theories behind the change, but the prevailing thought is simple: Samsung no longer wants the burden of managing its messaging servers. It makes more sense to hand over the reins to Google, which has slowly built the home platform for billions of Android users. Between the performance, safety, and financial implications, the move makes good business sense.
That said, if you’re like me and want to back up important messages from years ago, you have options. I’ll go over the most reliable ones below, leaving out the ones that involve third-party services that might put your private information.
1. Back up your messages locally
Your most secure backup option is to transfer locally to an external storage drive, or SSD. Depending on how many months or years you’ll be moving messages, you’ll want to make sure the drive has enough memory to handle the data.
This is often a good time to look through your various threads and conversations and delete the ones you don’t want (or have) to keep, such as 2FA and OTA codes, transaction histories, and receipts.
To backup your Samsung Messages documents, connect your SSD to your phone, open the Smart Switch app by going to Settings > Accounts and backup > Smart Switchselect the storage icon in the upper right corner, then Make a backupand press Messages. The phone should start packing your documents into a readable file.
2. Back up your messages in the cloud
It may sound intimidating to some, but cloud backups are more reliable and useful than ever, thanks to security enhancements in services like Samsung Knox, which comes built-in to most modern Samsung phones. It’s also an intuitive way to back up and restore files — not just text messages — when you finally switch to a new device.
Also: How I saved $1,200 a year on cloud storage – in 5 sobering steps
There are two native cloud services you can back up your Samsung Messages to: Samsung Cloud and Google Drive. Personally, I would recommend the latter, as it is easily available on all phones and PCs, including non-Samsung devices. Google Drive also comes with 15GB of free storage, compared to Samsung’s 5GB, in case you haven’t used that benefit.
Here is a breakdown of the two services to help you decide better. If it helps, there is a backup conflict for both services.
| A feature | Samsung Cloud | Google One/Drive |
| It’s ready | Galaxy-to-Galaxy changes | Multi-device and cross-brand synchronization |
| Amount of free storage | 5GB (varies by region/system) | 15GB (shared with Gmail/Drive) |
| Photos/videos | Coordinated with Microsoft OneDrive | Managed by Google Images |
| Device settings | Deep backup of home screen, alarms, etc. | Backup basic Android settings |
| Application support | Samsung Apps (Notes, Calendar) | Google apps and third-party app data |
| Accessibility | The best for Samsung devices | Available on web, iOS, and Android |
In both services, you can back up your documents by opening them Settings > Accounts and backup > Save the data under Samsung Cloud and/or Google Drive. You will need to sign in to your Samsung account or Google account, depending on the service.
If the process is done correctly, the relevant settings pages should show your last backup timestamp, which should be today’s date.
What happens next?
With your text messages backed up, I’d recommend you start checking out Google Messages, or other social media, to see which one you can choose before Samsung finally pulls the plug in July. Although the company has not yet confirmed the exact date of the sunset, it never hurts to prepare ahead of time.
Also: How to use the new Google Messages trash feature to find texts you accidentally deleted
Personally, I’m switching to Google Messages. It may not have the same personal features as Samsung’s, but it has its advantages, such as a universal RCS system that is not limited to any specific carrier, some useful Gemini integration, intelligent responses and native AI image generation, and, in my experience, a very reliable spam detector. We may see new features as soon as this month.
