Facebook Messenger is sunsetting its SMS support for Android users on September 28, 2023. The change was announced quietly on Meta’s support page on Monday. This means that if you currently use Messenger as your default SMS app, you will need to choose a new one before September 28. 

Facebook drops SMS support on Messenger

Meta (then Facebook) first added SMS support to its Messenger app in 2012, but it was discontinued in 2013. In 2016, the company brought back SMS support, this time with a few key changes. Most importantly, SMS messages were displayed in purple to distinguish them from online chats, which were displayed in blue.

However, the popularity of third-party SMS apps has been declining in recent years. Users are increasingly turning to web-based IM clients like Messenger and WhatsApp, which offer a wider range of features and functionality. 

Also, Messenger does not have access to modern IP-based Rich Communication Services (RCS), which Google has been focusing on in recent years. Google Messages, which is the default SMS app on most Android devices, handles both SMS and MMS messages and supports RCS. 

Google is pushing RCS as a replacement for SMS and MMS, which could further accelerate the decline of third-party SMS apps. In light of these trends, it is not surprising that Meta has decided to discontinue SMS support in Messenger for Android users. The company is likely focused on developing Messenger as a more social messaging app, rather than a general-purpose texting app. 

If you are an Android user who currently uses Messenger as your default SMS app, you should start planning to switch to a different app before September 28th. There are many great SMS apps available, such as Google Messages, Textra, and Pulse. You can read reviews of different apps to find one that best meets your needs.

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