Android Authority reported on the issue, highlighting the widespread frustration among Samsung Galaxy users. The complaints pointed to a common theme – the Messages app would remain installed on the phone, and the list of conversations would still be visible, but any attempt to initiate a new chat would trigger the crash.
Fortunately, a Samsung moderator on the company’s help platform offered a potential solution. They acknowledged the issue and suggested that users force stop Google Meet, then either disable or uninstall updates on the video chatting app. The moderator explained that the steps involved navigating to Settings > Apps > Google Meet > Force stop, and then tapping the three-dot menu button to select “Uninstall updates.” Alternatively, users could simply disable Google Meet altogether.
This workaround seemed to work for many users, as comments on Reddit confirmed that uninstalling updates or disabling Google Meet revived the Messages app. For those who preferred not to tinker with Google Meet, the Samsung moderator proposed switching to Google Messages, which is also preinstalled on some Samsung devices and offers RCS chats.
Credit: Samsung
While the root cause of the issue remains unclear, the temporary fix points to a possible conflict between Google Meet and Samsung Messages. It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Google apps have caused issues on Samsung devices. In the past, similar problems have arisen with other Google apps like Android System WebView.
For now, Samsung Galaxy users can breathe a sigh of relief knowing there’s a way to restore their beloved Messages app. Whether they choose to disable Google Meet or switch to Google Messages, the important thing is that they can once again access their conversations and stay connected with their loved ones.