JUMP TO SOLUTION Solved

Original topic:

How to transfer Samsung Messages to Google Messages

(Topic created: 09-24-2024 03:33 AM)
4591 Views
MariaR
Cosmic Ray
Options
Galaxy Note Phones
I have a Note 20 Ultra and I tried switching from the Samsung Messages app to Google Messages. However, not all my messages are showing up in the Google Messages app.

I switched back for now but I really would like to know how to do this since Samsung is pushing hard for the switch over. I don't want to lose my messages history.

Thanks!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Devices on AT&T: Note 20 Ultra (SM-N986U); Watch4 LTE (SM-R865U); Buds Live (SM-R180)

1 Solution


Accepted Solutions
Solution
MariaR
Cosmic Ray
Options
Galaxy Note Phones

So I was finally able to successfully swith over to Google Messages AND I have my full messaging history. Steps I took were as follows:

  1. Turn off Advanced Messaging in Samsung Messages and turned off AT&T Message Backup & Sync
  2. Download SMS Backup & Restore from Google Play
  3. Using app mentioned above in step (1), Create a Full Backup, saved locally
  4. Delete all the messages in Samsung Messages (scary but I believe necessary)
  5. Reboot Phone (just as a precaution)
  6. Restore the Backup you created earlier using SMS Backup & Restore (this loads everything back but without any msgs labeled as advanced messaging)
  7. Download Google Messages and set as default

That was pretty much it. The trick is using a non-Samsung app to create your messages backup, deleting everything, and restoring so that any "advanced messaging" labels created by Samsung are gone now. Then, once you have a "clean" load of your messages, you can now download Google Messages and everything should switch over successfully.

Now, if only Google Messages would hurry up and update so we can have "Categories" and "Pin to Top" features like in the Samsung App - I would totally be a happy camper.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Devices on AT&T: Note 20 Ultra (SM-N986U); Watch4 LTE (SM-R865U); Buds Live (SM-R180)

View solution in context

10 Replies
meself
Honored Contributor
Options
Galaxy Note Phones
They should of all switched over when you changed to Google messages not sure why they all didn't
0 Likes
Reply
MariaR
Cosmic Ray
Options
Galaxy Note Phones
That's what I thought but after checking, there's a lot of msgs missing... When I open up a thread/conversation with a contact, some of my replies are gone.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Devices on AT&T: Note 20 Ultra (SM-N986U); Watch4 LTE (SM-R865U); Buds Live (SM-R180)
0 Likes
Reply
useru2lUkKNDHQ
Constellation
Options
Galaxy Note Phones
All of my messages transferred to Google Messages, but I noticed none of my previously starred messages remained starred. I wonder if this is a related issue to yours? They all appear to have transferred over at least.
Christ0pher
Asteroid
Options
Galaxy Note Phones
Lastly, an interaction involving encryption might be preventing RCS messages from going from one of the apps to the other (versus normal SMS text and MMS.)

I'm still using Samsung Messenges but in some test usage in Google messages I noticed that RCS chat messages from Google don't seem to sync back over to Samsung messages, but regular SMS/MMS do.

But, RCS messages from Samsung -> Google seemed intact. I haven't checked the full history of every conversation though, and mine go back nearly a decade from past devices 🙂 so, fingers crossed on that.
Christ0pher
Asteroid
Options
Galaxy Note Phones
Root phone,. Titanium backup and restore, or possibly SMS backup and restore.

Since that's not feasible for many, use the built in Samsung device swap software (or Download it) and make a backup that includes all your messages. Backup to a memory card or the cloud should be free for the Samsung swap app. This app is also able to restore / reinstall apps (including the app settings and data) from the backup, so it should afford you some testing flexibility and message history safety to figure out where or what part of the import went wrong.

(Also: be sure you haven't accidentally checked the options in Samsung messaging to auto delete old messages or "more than X messages" per conversation.

Further: Ensure there are no options that purge old messages in Google messages selected while you are there).

Then, restore the messages or relevant app data as needed, and hopefully whatever glitched was a fluke or corrected by an update, or reproducible (you'd have to submit feedback and/or a bug report both to Google and to Samsung members and sit on your backup while it's triaged if this is the case).

Best of luck. LMK if anything specific hangs you up and I'll try and keep up with replying. Peace ✌️
MariaR
Cosmic Ray
Options
Galaxy Note Phones
I will try again and see what happens and report back.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Devices on AT&T: Note 20 Ultra (SM-N986U); Watch4 LTE (SM-R865U); Buds Live (SM-R180)
realaud
Honored Contributor
Options
Galaxy Note Phones
Those messages may have been flagged as spam for some reason and may have been relegated to the spam and blocked section of Google messages. To check, just tap your initial to get to the menu and choose "spam and blocked". If they are there, mark them as not spam snd they will return to you message stream. You can then either keep your spam segregated or turn if spam protection and all messages will reach your inbox.
MariaR
Cosmic Ray
Options
Galaxy Note Phones
Didn't know there was a spam section. I will try again and see what happens and report back.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Devices on AT&T: Note 20 Ultra (SM-N986U); Watch4 LTE (SM-R865U); Buds Live (SM-R180)
0 Likes
Reply
realaud
Honored Contributor
Options
Galaxy Note Phones
I don't actually rember if spam blocking is turned on by default or I turned it on. I love that feature, as I'm not constantly disturbed with notifications or have my main feed cluttered up with politicsl donation reauests.
0 Likes
Reply