Samsung Messages is a great app, but not everyone is a fan. Thanks to the accommodating nature of Android, you can easily change the default messaging app on the phone. Android, Google Messages, Textra, Pulse SMS etc. It offers a variety of messaging apps to choose from. Google Messages offers tough competition to Samsung Messages. And it comes pre-installed on Stock Android phones. So if you want to switch from Samsung Messages to Google Messages, you are in the right place.
You may want to transfer messages for two possible reasons. First, if you want to move Samsung Messages to the Google Messages app on the same phone and secondly to a new phone running the Google Messages app.
Note: The name of the Google Messages app is Messages. To avoid confusion in this post, we will use Google Messages and Google Messages as alternatives. The app is also referred to as Android Messages.
Let’s check out how to move Samsung Messages to Google Messages.
Transfer Samsung Messages to Google Messages on the Same Phone
If you want to switch to the Messages by Google app on your Samsung phone, you don’t need to do much other than install the Messages app and make it your default app. All your text messages will automatically appear in the Messages app.
Here’s how to go about it:
Stage 1: Download Messages from Google to your Samsung phone.
Step 2: Once installed, open it. You will be asked if you want to make it your default app. Tap Yes.
Also Read: Microsoft SMS Organizer is another great messaging app for Android. Learn how it differs from the Google Messages app.
If you don’t have the option to make the Messages app your default, don’t worry. Follow these instructions to change the default SMS app on your Samsung phone.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Change Default SMS App on Samsung
Stage 1: Open Settings on your Samsung phone and go to Apps.
Step 2: Under Apps, tap the three-dot icon at the top. Select Default apps from the menu.
Stage 3: Tap on the SMS app option. Select Google Messages to make it the default app. Check the Messages app’s logo to avoid confusion.
Transfer Samsung Messages to Google Messages on Different Phone
Now, if you want to transfer your SMS from a Samsung phone to a new phone running Google’s Messages app, the procedure is slightly different. You will need a third party app to export SMS from your Samsung phone and transfer them to your new phone.
Note: You will have to follow the steps before formatting your old Samsung phone.
Here are the detailed steps:
Stage 1: Download the SMS Backup & Restore app on your Samsung phone.
Step 2: Open the SMS Backup & Restore app. Grant the required permissions required by the app when prompted.
Stage 3: Tap on Set backup. You will be asked what you want to backup – Messages or Call logs. If you don’t want to back up call logs, enable Messages and turn off the switch next to Call logs. Tap Next.
Step 4: You will now have various storage options to save your messages. Choose the one you like from Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive.
You can also create a backup on your phone using the available button. However, you will have to email it to your other phone or manually upload it to any of their cloud storage services. If you don’t and you format your phone, you will lose the backup. Click Next after choosing your storage selection.
Step 5: Next, you will be asked if you want to schedule the backup. Disable the option as you only export and import the backup once. Tap on Backup now. Let the app create a backup.
Step 6: Install the SMS Backup & Restore app on your new phone from the link given above.
Pro Tip: For best results, be sure to select the Samsung Messages app as the default app if you’re only transferring to a Samsung phone. You can then change it to Messages by Google.
Step 7: Launch the SMS Backup & Restore app after installation. Tap the three-bar icon at the top. Select Restore from the menu.
Step 8: Select the storage you want to restore the backup to. Wait for a while until the app completes the restore process.
Step 9: Open the default SMS app (Samsung Messages on Samsung phones and Google Messages on Stock Android phones). Messages from your old Samsung phone can be used on the new phone. Follow the instructions given above to make Google’s Messages app the default.
Text from Computer
Transferring messages from Samsung to Google Messages can be a little tricky and we hope our guide helps you with that. Also, Google Messages is available on the web at message.google.com/web/. Just scan the QR code and you can send and receive SMS messages on your computer without any third party apps.
Next: Android Messages app aka Google Messages keeps crashing on your phone? Check out the fixes listed next to it to fix the issue.
