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

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Samsung is ending its messaging app someday in July.
• Android 12 or newer customers should swap to Google Messages.
• Again up your messages to Samsung Cloud or Google Drive.

The reckoning is right here. Properly, nearly right here, and possibly rather less dramatic than I am describing. Samsung not too long ago confirmed that it will be shuttering its personal Messages app in favor of Google’s, requiring customers on Samsung telephones operating Android 12 or newer to make the swap in July in the event that they have not finished so already.

This sunsetting marks a virtually 16-year run for the proprietary communication platform, one which has constructed fairly the cult following over time. However nobody ought to be stunned to see this coming. Simply two years in the past, Samsung started delivery its newest Galaxy telephones with Google Messages set because the default messaging app. Extra not too long ago, you would not even be capable of obtain the Samsung Messages app on telephones just like the Galaxy S26 collection.

So, what offers? There are many unofficial theories behind the transition, however the prevailing assumption is straightforward: Samsung now not needs the burden of managing its personal messaging servers. It makes extra sense at hand the reins to Google, which has steadily constructed a platform residence to billions of Android customers. Between the sensible, safety, and monetary ramifications, the transfer simply is sensible for the enterprise.

That mentioned, when you’re like me and wish to again up any essential messages from through the years, you’ve got acquired choices. I am going to go over essentially the most dependable ones under, forgoing those that contain third-party providers that will put your private data in danger.

1. Backing up your messages regionally

Your most safe backup choice is an area switch to an exterior storage drive, or SSD. Relying on what number of months’ or years’ value of messages you may be transferring, you may wish to ensure the drive has sufficient reminiscence to host the information.

That is typically a very good time to look over your varied threads and conversations and delete those you do not need (or have) to retailer, reminiscent of 2FA and OTA codes, transaction histories, and receipts.

To again up your Samsung Messages texts, join your SSD to your telephone, open the Good Swap app by going to Settings > Accounts and backup > Good Swap, choose the storage icon within the high proper nook, then Again up, and faucet Messages. The telephone ought to start packaging your texts right into a readable file.

2. Backing up your messages to the cloud

It may be intimidating for some, however cloud backups are far more dependable and useful than they was, due to safety enhancements to providers like Samsung Knox, which comes inbuilt on most fashionable Samsung telephones. It is also an intuitive strategy to again up and restore recordsdata — not simply textual content messages — once you ultimately swap to a brand new system.

There are two native cloud providers you could again up your Samsung Messages to: Samsung Cloud and Google Drive. Personally, I would suggest the latter, because it’s extra accessible throughout telephones and PCs, together with non-Samsung units. Google Drive additionally comes with 15GB of free storage, versus Samsung’s 5GB, in case you have not been profiting from that profit.

Here is the breakdown of the 2 providers that can assist you higher resolve. If it helps, there’s an argument for backing as much as each providers.

For each providers, you’ll be able to again up your texts by opening Settings > Accounts and backup > Again up knowledge underneath Samsung Cloud and/or Google Drive. You will be required to register to both your Samsung account or Google account, relying on the service.

If the method is completed correctly, the respective settings pages ought to present your final backed-up timestamp, which ought to be at this time’s date.

What occurs subsequent?

Along with your textual content messages backed up, I would suggest you begin testing Google Messages, or various communication platforms, to see which one you’d choose earlier than Samsung in the end pulls the plug in July. Whereas the corporate hasn’t confirmed the precise date of the sunsetting, it by no means hurts to arrange your self forward of time.

Personally, I am switching to Google Messages. It could not have the identical personalization options as Samsung’s, nevertheless it has its benefits, like a extra common RCS system that is not restricted to any particular provider, some helpful Gemini integrations, good replies and native AI picture technology, and, from what I’ve skilled, a extra dependable spam detector. We might even see some newer options as quickly as later this month.