How to Switch from Android 12 to Android 11 to avoid Google text messaging

[Members_83aohXa]

I have a Samsung S10e and a Samsung S21 5g phone. I refuse to use Google for text messages.  Comments/instructions/advice on backing up my phone, rooting it and then uninstalling Android 12 and installing Android 11? Will this work? Or am I forced to buy a new (new-to-me, can't afford a truly new) iPhone? I heard Apple messages can be installed on a Samsung phone? Would this be a workable option? Attempting to go back to Android 11 is a pretty scary option. However, I will consider my phone unusable anyway if I am forced to use Google messages. It will become a fancy, expensive extra photo drive sitting in the drawer unused.

[innergray]

you can disable auto blocker and download its apk here: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/samsung-electronics-co-ltd/samsung-messages/samsung-messages-16-7-90-1... don't know if it'll continue to work after its discontinuation though.

[Robin621k]

No, it will not work past 6/6.

[Members_83aohXa]

Thank you! That's a start.

[innergray]

make sure to turn on the sms permission in its app settings, then you're good to go!

[AAbbott]

Be aware, though, that downgrading to Android 11 may make some of your secure apps, such as banks, not work properly as the banks won't think it's secure.  You can refuse to use Google Messages, it's not mandatory - you just have to find another messaging app that's acceptable to you, as you will no longer have a functional Samsung messaging app after July 6.  I'd sooner choose a different app than go through the trouble and possible bricking of my phone and the possibility of important apps not working by downgrading. 

Also, the link provided appears to be a link the Samsung Messages apk file, not the Android 11 firmware.  So, I don't recommend attempting to root unless you absolutely know what you are doing and can live with the consequences of doing it wrong.

[Robin621k]

You cannot install IMessage on any Android phone. There are plenty of texting apps in the Playstore. You are not forced to use Google Messages.

Buy an S9!

[Srb79]

It will not make a difference, carriers will block it

[AAbbott]

carriers will block what?  Any version of Samsung messages that will run on Android 11 will not have RCS functionality. It will be strictly an SMS/MMS app, so there would be no reason for carriers to block anything.

[TheRevenite]

Apple iMessage cannot be installed on android. RCS just now works between iMessage and RCS capable texting apps on Android, along with emojis and some other stuff including end to end encryption.

I'm not sure what your issue is with Google Messages. While I think it's a downgrade in terms of polish and options, like customizing chats on a per person or group basis not included with Google Messages, the core backend of both apps messaging functions are the same, and if you see RCS and a lock, it's end to end encrypted messages, so Google can't snoop any more in Messages than they can in any or every other part of your phone..

If we were talking tablets, I'd say root it and look for a LineageOS build for the tablet, but for phones, carriers can decide to simply not support you if your phone is rooted. If we were having this discussion 10+ years ago, root it. Today, I wouldn't. I didn't like the switch, and I also have an iPhone, and the only big difference I see missing are the person or chat specific customizations that Apple has and Samsung had. You can't even apply a theme to Google messages, but to root and downgrade an already at risk, unsupported pair of devices like yours, well, if you have to ask how to back up and root your devices, you probably don't understand what you're really accomplishing. Which actually begs the question, what would downgrading the OS accomplish anyway, Samsung Messages will still stop working, or maybe you're just going back to a version that doesn't support RCS, and are just sending SMS messages. I still don't see downgrading and/or rooting is going to solve anything, or why you stop using the phones if you have to use Google messages.

Google is the RCS standard for Android, but there are a few SMS alternatives however, only one I found to have RCS is Smart Messages, and frankly, it's ugly AF. SMS has no encryption, so anything you send can be seen and intercepted by others, so you essentially buy an iPhone, stick with Google Messages, or use Smart Messages.