In its End of Service announcement, Samsung said an in-app notification will help guide you through the process of making the switch. For those who want to do it manually you will need to open or download Google Messages from the Play Store. When you first open it, a prompt asks to make it your default SMS app. Tapping that button and selecting Google Messages from the list makes the change permanent.

According to the Korean tech giant, killing its own messaging client is about its commitment to "maintain a consistent messaging experience on Android". The company says that by switching to Google Messages, users will enjoy things like powerful security through AI-powered scam detection and spam filtering.

The switch also brings universal RCS messaging, enabling high-quality media sharing and typing indicators with both Android and iOS users. You will also get expressive AI features powered by Gemini for remixing photos and generating smart replies, along with multi-device connectivity for syncing chats between your phone, tablet, or watch.