How to transfer Samsung Messages to Google Messages

[MariaR]

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!

[MariaR · Accepted solution]

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.