Use the Samsung Messages app on your Galaxy phone or tablet
Keep in touch with all of your contacts using the Messages app on your Galaxy phone or tablet. It's never been easier to share photos, send emojis, or just say a quick hello. There's so much you can do with your messages, like mute conversations or assign special message tones for certain contacts.
Note: The following instructions and features are for the Samsung Messages app, which is available on Samsung devices running software version Android 9.0 Pie and up. These instructions do not refer to carrier or third-party apps. Texting is only supported on LTE devices.
Types of messages
Let's break down the two types of messages in the Samsung Messages app, so you understand what they mean.
Text Messages (SMS): The Short Message Service (SMS) lets you send and receive text messages to and from other phones or email addresses. To use this feature, you may need to subscribe to your service provider’s message service.
Multimedia Messages (MMS): The Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) lets you send and receive multimedia messages (such as picture, video, and audio messages) to and from other phones or email addresses. To use this feature, you may need to subscribe to your service provider’s multimedia message service.
Note: Messaging icons are displayed at the top of the screen and indicate when messages are received.
Create and send messages
Want to see what's up tonight? Send a quick message to your crew. Learn how to create and send messages right here.
Note: If you exit a message before you send it, the message is automatically saved as a draft.
Navigate to and open the Messages app, and then tap the Compose icon in the lower right-hand corner. You can also tap a previous conversation.
Select your desired recipient(s). You can type the name of a contact or type a phone number.
Type out your message. If you’d like to insert an attachment, tap the Gallery or Camera icons to the left of the text box. You may need to tap the arrow next to the box if you've already entered some text.
You can also tap Add (the plus icon) for additional attachment options.
When you're finished, tap Send (the arrow icon).
Create and schedule a message
Messages has everything you need to craft that perfect greeting, including options to schedule a message in advance.
Open Messages on your device, and then tap Compose in the lower right-hand corner.
Select the desired recipient(s), and then tap the Enter message field. Write out your text.
Tap Add (the plus sign). If you don't see the plus sign, tap the arrow on the left side.
Then, tap Schedule message. Set the date and time you want your text message delivered. It can be up to a year from the current date. When you're finished, tap Done. You can also tap the option for Set schedule later.
Note: If you exit a message before you send it, the message will be automatically saved as a draft.
View new messages
You've got messages - make sure you remember to reply! You have a couple ways to view new messages.
To view messages from the Notification panel, swipe down from the top of the screen, and then tap the New message notification.
To view new messages from the Messages app, simply open the app and tap the conversation with the new message.
You can also view your messages in a pop-up window chat head if you set up the new Bubbles feature.
To play a multimedia message attachment (audio or video), tap Play.
Use group messages
You can create group messages in the Samsung Messages app if you’d like to chat with several people. Images and videos can be sent in group messages as well, which makes it easier to share information with friends and family at the same time.
Message customization
When it comes to giving your device some style, Samsung has you covered. To customize the way your Messages app appears, try changing the theme on your device.
If you want to change your font for Messages, adjust your font settings.
You can also set a custom wallpaper or background color for individual message threads. From the conversation you'd like to customize, tap More options (the three vertical dots), and then tap Customize wallpaper or Customize chat room. Tap the Gallery icon to choose an image, or you can tap a color to just change the background color. On some devices, you can also change the bubble opacity and the text contrast.
Set custom notification tones for message threads
You can set custom ringtones for different contacts, so you'll know right away if it's your mom or your best friend messaging you.
Open Messages on your device, and then tap the desired conversation. Tap More options (the three vertical dots), and then tap Notification sound. Next, choose your desired notification sound for that conversation.
Now when the next message comes in, you'll hear the sound you chose, and the Messages app will get a numbered icon badge showing how many unread messages you have.
Note: The notification settings on your phone or tablet may vary based on your carrier and whether your service is active.
Manage categories
You can file your messages into Conversation categories so they are easier to find. For instance, maybe you have a few different group chats with friends and need to keep track of them. Just create a few categories so you’ll know where your messages are.
Navigate to and open the Messages app, and then tap More options (the three vertical dots).
Tap Settings, and then tap the switch next to Conversation categories to turn it on.
Next, tap Conversation categories.
Tap Add category, add your desired name, and then tap Add.
On the next page, tap the search bar to search for and select conversations to add to the category.
To view your new category, navigate back to Messages, and then select its name at the top. From here, tap Add conversations. Choose your desired conversations for that category, and then tap Done.
If you need to remove one or more categories, tap More options (the three vertical dots), then tap Edit categories, and then touch and hold the desired category. Tap Delete or Delete all at the bottom.
Whenever you want to view a certain category or find a particular conversation, just go to the Conversation categories page to make it easy to find. It will all be laid out for you in one place.
Change the font size
You want to catch every word in your messages, but the font's a little small. Adjust the font size for individual messages without affecting the general font size setting for your device.
Open a message that you’d like to view from the Messages app, and then use two fingers to pinch in and out on the screen. The font will automatically become larger or smaller. Any changes you make will only affect texts displayed in the Messages app, and the last size you selected will be saved until you change it again.
Change the profile picture
Give your texts a personal touch by setting a profile picture in the Messages app. You can select from preloaded icons or your own photos.
From a Home screen, navigate to and open Contacts. Your profile will appear above your Contact list.
Tap your profile icon at the top, tap Edit at the bottom, and then tap Gallery.
Select the photo you want to use as a profile picture. You can also choose a preloaded icon or take a photo using the Camera app.
Crop the picture, and then tap Done. (You cannot crop an icon.) You can also add or edit information to your profile page.
To save any changes, tap Save. Contacts on your phone will see your profile picture if they're using a Samsung phone.
Note: Profile sharing must be activated on the phone for others to see your icon.
Mute or unmute notifications for conversations
By default, you are alerted when you receive a message from a contact. But you can mute any conversation, especially if you’re in a meeting and don’t want to be disturbed.
From the Messages app, select a conversation, and tap More options (the three vertical dots). Depending on your carrier, the mute option layout may differ; you might have to tap Mute Conversation or the Bell icon. To unmute, tap Unmute Conversation or the Bell icon again.
Note: The Bell icon will appear blue when the conversation is unmuted and clear when the conversation is muted. You can still view messages when a conversation is muted; you just won't get notifications when texts arrive.
Delete messages from conversations
If you've got old messages hanging around clogging up your inbox, delete 'em. Your phone's storage will thank you.
Navigate to and open the Messages app, and then find your desired conversation.
Touch and hold the message you’d like to delete, and then tap Delete. You can also tap All to select all messages.
Tap Move to Trash to confirm. The message will remain in the Trash for 30 days.
Disable Trash for messages
If you'd prefer to directly delete messages without using the Trash function, it can be disabled.
From the Messages app, tap More options (the three vertical dots), and then tap Settings.
Tap the switch next to Trash to turn off the function. Tap Turn off when prompted.
If you’d like to turn it back on later, simply tap the switch again.
From the Messages app, tap More options (the three vertical dots), and then tap Trash.
Touch and hold your desired message, and then tap Restore or Restore all at the bottom.
Your conversation will be restored; you can view it from the Conversations tab.
Recover messages from Trash
If you accidentally deleted a message, you can recover it from the Trash within 30 days.
Messages app settings to know
Here are some useful tools and settings for the Messages app that you might not have known about. Use them to get the most out of your texts and messages.
Search: Use the Search icon to find a message thread you are looking for.
Delete: Touch and hold a message you want to delete, and then select the message(s) you want to remove. Tap Delete or Delete all located at the bottom, and then tap Move to Trash to confirm. To recover a deleted message, navigate to the Conversations tab, then tap More options (the three vertical dots), and then tap Trash. Touch and hold the desired message(s), and then tap Restore or Restore all at the bottom.
Star Messages: Tap and hold a chat bubble that you want to star or favorite, and then tap Star message. To view the starred messages, go the Conversations tab, tap More options (the three vertical dots), and then tap Starred messages.
Block messages: You can block and delete unwanted messages. When you get a sketchy text, select Block number at the top of the conversation. To view blocked numbers and messages, or to block a number, go to the Conversations tab, tap More options (the three vertical dots), and then tap Settings. Tap Block numbers and spam.
Pin a conversation: From a conversation, tap More options (the three vertical dots), and then tap the pin icon at the bottom of the menu. This conversation will now appear above all other unpinned messages.
Update the app: From the Conversations tab, tap More options (the three vertical dots), tap Settings, and then tap About Messages. If an update is available, tap Update.
Conversation categories: You can organize your conversations into categories. See the "Manage categories" section for details.
Notifications: Adjust the notification settings for your messages. From the message, tap More options (the three vertical dots), and then tap Notification sound.
Emergency alert settings: View past emergency alerts that you've received.
Keyboard features
If you’d like to liven up your conversations, you can insert custom emojis and emoji stickers in your messages. Other available features include writing out messages using your voice, changing up the keyboard language, and setting up smart typing options like predictive text and auto replace. You can customize these features to make creating and sending messages even easier.
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