Samsung Messages to Drop RCS Support in January 2025

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Whether you like it or not, a switch from Samsung Messages to Google Messages may soon be unavoidable. Verizon has begun notifying its subscribers that Samsung’s messaging app will no longer support RCS after January 6, 2025, urging Galaxy users to transition to Google Messages. Samsung is already in the process of phasing out its messaging app in favor of Google’s platform.

RCS features to end on Samsung Messages next month, switch to Google Messages now

RCS, aka Rich Communication Services, is a new messaging standard replacing SMS. It offers features like read receipts, typing indicators, and end-to-end encryption (E2EE), making messaging more secure and fun. Apple recently implemented RCS on its iMessage app, enabling seamless cross-platform messaging between Androids and iPhones. E2EE is missing for Android-iOS chats, but you get all the other features.

To speed up RCS adoption across the Android ecosystem, Samsung has been replacing its messaging app with Google Messages on Galaxy devices. This is because the latter has RCS enabled at the system level, while Samsung’s app offers RCS only if the carrier supports it. The firm has already stopped pre-loading its app in some markets, while Google’s app comes set as the default platform in others even when Samsung Messages is preloaded.

Samsung seems to be moving toward fully dropping RCS support from its messaging platform. The company may phase it out gradually as users transition to Google Messages. Recently, Verizon users have reported receiving notifications about this upcoming shift. “Samsung Messages will no longer support RCS after 1.6.2025. Switch to Google Messages to maintain the more robust messaging you’re used to,” the message reads (h/t X/@SpadesTy).

It’s unclear if Verizon is pulling the plug here or Samsung. It’s also unclear if Samsung Messages will continue to support RCS on other networks beyond January 6. 2025. However, Samsung wants to move all Galaxy users to Google Messages, so it may ultimately discontinue its messaging app entirely. For now, Samsung Messages continues to function perfectly, so you don’t need to switch unless RCS features are essential to you. If you wish to switch, here’s a complete guide.

Written by

Sumit Adhikari

Sumit, a life-long Samsung user, is passionate about technology and has been professionally writing on tech since 2017. He’s a mathematics graduate by education and enjoys teaching basic mathematics tricks to school kids in his spare time. Sumit believes in artificial intelligence and dreams of a fully open, intelligent and connected world.

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