AT&T Messages is shutting down, and those still using the carrier's Android texting apps are being encouraged to move to a different SMS texting app. AT&T Messages consists of two apps, Messages Backup and Sync on phones and Messages for Tablet.
While AT&T's support page for the transition currently lists "end of 2024" as the time frame, an AT&T representative told CNET that Dec. 4 was the official sunset for the texting apps. The carrier is encouraging customers to switch to Google Messages because that app will work across both Android phones and tablets while providing the same features. And unlike Verizon's shutdown of its Message Plus app, the switch to Google Messages can be done manually or automatically, which should help customers to make the transition without losing access to their texts.
The end of AT&T's texting apps is taking place partly to make way for the RCS texting standard, which now supports modern texting features like typing indicators and high-quality media sharing across both Android phones running Google Messages and Apple iPhones that are running iOS 18. AT&T pledged its support toward RCS by first preloading Google Messages onto its phones in 2021 and then committing to the Jibe platform that powers those better texting features in 2023.
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What is AT&T Messages and why is it shutting down?
AT&T Messages was a carrier-provided texting app available on Android phones and tablets. The AT&T Messages Backup and Sync app provided SMS and MMS texting on phones, while also backing up message history. AT&T Messages for Tablet allowed for accessing those same text messages from a tablet, using that cloud backup.
AT&T began providing notices to customers about the shutdown earlier this year, with the tablet app starting to alert users on June 1 and the phone app beginning its notices three months before the shutdown.
In its support page about the shutdown, AT&T mentions that Google Messages can be used across both phones and tablets, and all stored messages will appear within Google Messages after making the switch. One notable piece not carrying over, however, is cloud backup. After AT&T's apps sunset, the cloud backup provided by the carrier will be deleted.
In addition to the shutdown of AT&T Messages, the carrier is pushing Google Messages as the new default texting app for Android users. It is encouraging customers who are using other texting apps to also make the switch by providing instructions for swapping from other texting apps to Google Messages.
Most phones purchased from AT&T after Feb. 25, 2022, should have Google Messages already available by default. Phones purchased before then might include AT&T Messages, while Galaxy phones may see Samsung Messages as their default texting app.
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How to switch and what should I know about RCS texting?
Switching from AT&T Messages to another texting app is easy. According to AT&T's support page, phones should automatically switch to a different default texting app even if you don't do anything proactively beforehand. This could include Google Messages, if it's preloaded, or a different texting app like Samsung Messages depending on your device.
If you would like to make the swap yourself before the service shuts down, you can begin by downloading Google Messages or another texting app from the Play Store, in the event your phone does not already have your preferred alternative installed. When you launch this app for the first time, it should prompt you to make it your new default texting app. If it does not, you can also do this from your phone's Settings app, tapping Default Apps, then Default SMS app and choosing your preferred texting app from there.
Since different Android phones often have different menu layouts, you can also search for the default SMS option.
If you do make the switch to Google Messages, you'll also get the option for turning on RCS texting, which I would recommend. This will allow for a richer texting experience between Android phones that are also running Google Messages and iPhone users running iOS 18. This includes typing indicators, read receipts, group chats and high-quality media sharing.
When texting other Android users over RCS on Google Messages, your texts will also be encrypted. At this time, RCS doesn't support encryption between iOS and Android, but that feature could come in the future.
It's an important distinction, however, because recently the FBI and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Service Agency are warning that wireless carriers are targets in an ongoing cyberattack, making them potentially susceptible to hacking. A way to avoid that is to ensure that your texts are encrypted, which can be handled by a multitude of chat apps available on iOS and Android like WhatsApp, Signal and Facebook Messenger.