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Samsung Messages Failing? 7 Proven Fixes to Get You Back on Track

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Samsung is renowned for producing top-tier smartphones, yet even these sophisticated devices can occasionally encounter glitches. Some Samsung phone models, particularly those in the mid-range category, are not immune to experiencing certain issues. A recurring concern voiced by Samsung users is problems with the Samsung Messages app, ranging from crashes to complete failures in sending or receiving SMS messages. If you find yourself struggling with similar frustrations and are unable to fully utilize your Samsung Messages app, this guide provides effective solutions to get your messaging back on track.

Samsung Messages App Not Working?

Samsung Messages App Not Working

When your Samsung Messages app malfunctions, it could be a symptom of several underlying issues. One potential cause is conflicts arising from having multiple SMS applications installed on your device, which can interfere with the performance of the pre-installed app. Another common culprit is corrupted or outdated cache files within the Samsung Messages app itself. These corrupted files can hinder the app’s ability to function correctly. Furthermore, bugs within the current version of One UI installed on your phone might also be responsible for messaging app problems. Identifying the precise cause can be tricky, but fortunately, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to address these issues.

How to Fix Samsung Messages App Not Working

Because pinpointing the exact reason for your Samsung Messages app malfunction can be challenging, a systematic approach using general workarounds is often the most effective strategy. These workarounds are designed to tackle common problems that can disrupt SMS app functionality. Below are some of the most effective methods to try when your Samsung Messages app is not working as expected. These steps range from simple fixes to slightly more involved procedures, ensuring you have a comprehensive set of solutions at your disposal.

1. Force Stop the Samsung Messages App

Force Stop Samsung Messages App

If your Messages app is unresponsive or behaving erratically, force stopping it is a straightforward first step to try. This action forcibly closes the application and all its associated processes, effectively giving it a fresh start when you relaunch it. Force stopping can resolve temporary glitches or processes that have become stuck and are preventing the app from functioning correctly. Here’s how to force stop the Samsung Messages app on your phone:

  1. Begin by opening the Settings application on your Samsung phone. This is typically found on your home screen or in the app drawer, represented by a gear icon.
  2. Once in Settings, scroll down and locate the Apps section. Tap on Apps to proceed to the application management screen.
  3. Within the Apps screen, you will see a list of all applications installed on your device. Scroll through this list or use the search function at the top to find Samsung Messages. Tap on Samsung Messages to open its app info page.
  4. On the Samsung Messages app info page, you should see a Force Stop button, usually located at the bottom right or within the app control options. Tap the Force Stop button. You might see a warning prompt asking you to confirm your action; confirm by tapping OK or Force Stop again.

After force-stopping the app, wait a few seconds, and then relaunch the Samsung Messages app from your app drawer or home screen. Check if this simple action has resolved the issue you were experiencing. Often, force stopping is sufficient to clear minor software hiccups and restore the app to normal operation.

2. Restart your Samsung Phone

Restart Samsung Phone

If force-stopping the Samsung Messages app didn’t resolve the problem, restarting your entire Samsung phone is the next logical step. A device restart is a powerful troubleshooting technique that can often clear up a wide range of software issues. Restarting your phone effectively closes all running applications and processes, clears temporary system files, and refreshes the operating system. This process can eliminate bugs and glitches that might be interfering with the Messages app’s ability to function correctly.

To restart your Samsung phone, follow these simple steps:

  1. Locate the Power button on your Samsung phone. This button is typically located on the right side of the device.
  2. Long-press the Power button. Hold it down for a few seconds until the power menu appears on your screen.
  3. From the power menu, select the Restart option. This option is often represented by a circular arrow icon or simply labeled “Restart.”
  4. Tap on Restart. Your Samsung phone will now begin the restart process. It will power down completely and then automatically power back on.

Once your phone has fully restarted, which may take a minute or two, open the Samsung Messages app and check if the problem persists. Restarting is a highly effective and non-destructive method to resolve various software-related issues, and it’s often successful in fixing problems with apps like Samsung Messages.

3. Uninstall Other SMS Apps on Your Phone

Uninstall SMS Apps

Having multiple SMS applications installed on your Samsung phone can sometimes lead to conflicts, particularly if Samsung Messages is not set as the default SMS app. These conflicts can arise because different SMS apps might try to access and manage messages simultaneously, leading to errors or malfunctions. This is especially true if you’ve recently installed a third-party SMS app. It’s important to consider whether the issue with your Samsung Messages app began after installing a new messaging application.

To check for and uninstall other SMS apps, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Settings app on your Samsung phone, usually found on your home screen or app drawer.
  2. Within Settings, navigate to the Apps section. Tap on Apps to view your installed applications.
  3. On the Apps screen, you will see a list of all apps. Scroll through this list and carefully look for any SMS or messaging apps that you have installed in addition to Samsung Messages. Common examples of third-party SMS apps include Textra, Pulse SMS, or various themed messaging apps.
  4. If you identify any other SMS apps, tap on the app you want to uninstall. This will open the app info page for that specific application.
  5. On the app info page, locate the Uninstall button. It’s usually near the top or bottom of the screen. Tap Uninstall.
  6. Confirm your decision to uninstall when prompted. The app will be removed from your device.

After uninstalling any additional SMS apps, restart your phone to ensure the changes are fully applied. Once restarted, check if the Samsung Messages app is now working correctly. If conflicts between SMS apps were the cause of the problem, uninstalling the extra apps should resolve the issue. If you prefer to keep multiple SMS apps, ensure that Samsung Messages is set as the default messaging app, as described in the next step.

4. Set Samsung Messages as the Default Messaging App

Set Default SMS App

Ensuring that Samsung Messages is set as the default messaging app on your phone is crucial for proper SMS functionality, especially if you have multiple messaging apps installed. When you have more than one SMS app, your phone needs to know which one to use for sending and receiving messages by default. If another app is set as default, it can interfere with Samsung Messages and cause it to malfunction. Setting Samsung Messages as the default app ensures it handles all SMS-related tasks without conflict.

Here’s how to set Samsung Messages as the default messaging app:

  1. Open the Settings application on your Samsung phone.
  2. In the Settings menu, scroll down and tap on Apps.
  3. On the Apps screen, look for and select Choose default apps. This option might be listed under “Default apps” or “Set as default apps” depending on your One UI version.
  4. Within the “Default apps” settings, tap on SMS app. This will show you a list of all SMS applications installed on your phone that can be set as the default.
  5. From the list of SMS apps, select Samsung Messages. This will set Samsung Messages as your phone’s default messaging application.

Once you have set Samsung Messages as the default, close the Settings app and test the messaging functionality. Try sending and receiving SMS messages to confirm that the app is working as expected. Setting the correct default app often resolves issues where messages are not being received or sent properly, or where the app is crashing due to conflicts.

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5. Update the Samsung Messages App

Update Samsung Messages App

Using an outdated version of the Samsung Messages app can sometimes lead to performance issues and bugs. App updates often include bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features that can resolve problems present in older versions. If your Samsung Messages app is not functioning correctly, checking for and installing updates is a vital troubleshooting step. Updating to the latest version ensures you have the most stable and efficient version of the app.

To update the Samsung Messages app from the Galaxy Store, follow these steps:

  1. Locate and launch the Galaxy Store app on your Samsung phone. The Galaxy Store is Samsung’s app marketplace, distinct from the Google Play Store. It is usually pre-installed on Samsung devices.
  2. Once the Galaxy Store is open, look for the Menu option. This is typically represented by three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) located in the top left corner of the screen. Tap on the Menu icon.
  3. In the menu, find and select Updates. This section lists all apps installed from the Galaxy Store that have available updates.
  4. Alternatively, you can use the search function within the Galaxy Store. Tap on the search icon (usually a magnifying glass) at the top of the screen and type Samsung Messages. Select Samsung Messages from the search results to go to the app’s page.
  5. On the Updates screen (or on the Samsung Messages app page), check if an Update button is available next to Samsung Messages. If an update is available, tap the Update button.
  6. The Galaxy Store will download and install the latest update for the Samsung Messages app. Ensure you have a stable internet connection during the update process.

After the update is complete, open the Samsung Messages app and check if the issues you were experiencing have been resolved. Updating the app is a simple yet effective way to eliminate bugs and ensure optimal performance. Regularly updating your apps is generally a good practice to maintain device stability and security.

6. Clear the Samsung Messages Cache

Clear Samsung Messages Cache

As previously mentioned, corrupted or outdated app caches can be a significant source of problems, including apps crashing or malfunctioning. The cache is where apps store temporary data to speed up loading times and performance. However, over time, this cached data can become corrupted or outdated, leading to conflicts and errors. Clearing the cache for the Samsung Messages app can resolve these issues by removing the potentially problematic temporary files, forcing the app to create fresh, clean cache data. This process is generally safe and will not delete your messages or personal data.

Here’s how to clear the Samsung Messages cache:

  1. Open the Settings app on your Samsung phone.
  2. Navigate to the Apps section. Tap on Apps to view your installed applications.
  3. On the Apps screen, find and tap on Samsung Messages from the list of apps. This will take you to the app info page for Samsung Messages.
  4. On the App info screen, select Storage. The option might be labeled as “Storage & cache” or simply “Storage” depending on your One UI version. Tap on Storage.
  5. Within the Storage settings for Samsung Messages, you will see options related to storage usage, including Clear Cache and Clear Data. Select Clear Cache. Tap the Clear Cache button. Important: Do not tap “Clear Data” at this stage unless you are willing to reset the app to its default state, which might delete some app settings (though it generally does not delete messages).

After clearing the cache, close the Settings app and relaunch the Samsung Messages app. Check if the problem is resolved. Clearing the cache is a common and effective fix for app-related issues caused by corrupted temporary data. If clearing the cache alone doesn’t work, you can also consider clearing the app data (as a more drastic step), but be aware that this might reset some of your app preferences.

7. Use a Different SMS App

Different SMS App

If, after trying all the above troubleshooting steps, you are still experiencing problems with the Samsung Messages app, and it remains consistently unreliable, your final option to ensure you can continue to send and receive SMS messages is to use an alternative SMS application. While Samsung Messages is the default and often preferred app for Samsung users, several excellent third-party SMS apps are available on the Google Play Store that can serve as reliable replacements.

One highly recommended alternative is Google Messages. Google Messages is a feature-rich SMS app that offers a clean interface, RCS (Rich Communication Services) support for enhanced messaging features, and robust performance. It is widely compatible with Android devices, including Samsung phones, and is often praised for its stability and functionality.

To switch to Google Messages or another third-party SMS app:

  1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Samsung phone.
  2. Search for Google Messages or another SMS app of your choice (e.g., Textra, Pulse SMS).
  3. Select the app from the search results and tap Install to download and install it on your device.
  4. Once installed, open the newly installed SMS app.
  5. The app will likely prompt you to set it as the default SMS app. Follow the on-screen instructions to set it as the default. This process is similar to setting Samsung Messages as default, as described in step 4. You will usually go to Settings > Apps > Choose default apps > SMS app and select the new app.

After setting a different SMS app as the default, you should be able to send and receive SMS messages without relying on Samsung Messages. While this is a workaround rather than a direct fix for Samsung Messages, it ensures you have a functional messaging solution while potentially avoiding the issues you were encountering with the default app. Consider exploring other SMS apps in the Play Store to find one that best suits your needs and preferences.

This guide has covered several proven methods to troubleshoot and resolve issues with the Samsung Messages app. By systematically following these steps, you should be able to get your messaging back on track and communicate seamlessly. If you continue to face problems or have further questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Sharing your experiences and questions can help others facing similar issues. Did you find this guide helpful? Let us know in the comments!

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