I'm backing up my Samsung Messages before it's too late - 2 free and easy methods

Samsung has confirmed it will sunset its proprietary Messages app in July 2026, ending a 16-year run. Users on Samsung phones running Android 12 or newer must switch to Google Messages by then. The move follows Samsung's earlier shift to ship Galaxy phones with Google Messages as default, and even the Galaxy S26 series no longer supports downloading Samsung Messages. The prevailing theory is that Samsung no longer wants to manage its own messaging servers, handing the responsibility to Google for practical, security, and financial reasons.

To save your messages before the transition, two free native methods are available. First, you can backup locally by connecting an external SSD to your phone via Smart Switch (Settings > Accounts and backup > Smart Switch > Back up > select Messages). This creates a readable file without relying on cloud servers. Second, you can backup to cloud services: Samsung Cloud (5GB free, best for Galaxy-to-Galaxy transitions) or Google Drive (15GB free, more accessible across devices and platforms). Both are secured by Samsung Knox and Google's encryption. For extra safety, backing up to both is recommended. Google Drive also syncs photos via Google Photos, making it a more versatile option for cross-brand use.