Samsung is preparing to discontinue its built-in Samsung News service, giving Galaxy smartphone and tablet owners an important reason to check their devices before the end of 2026. According to an in-app announcement reported in October, Samsung News will stop delivering content on December 21, 2026, at 00:00 UTC. Its dedicated widget will also stop receiving updates.
For people who regularly use the service to follow breaking headlines, sports results, stock updates and selected publications, this change could mean losing a familiar part of their Galaxy Home screen experience.
The announcement also raises another important question: what happens to users’ saved topics, followed sources and personalization settings after the service closes?
Samsung has indicated that information collected specifically through Samsung News will be deleted following the shutdown, subject to legal retention requirements. However, users should not assume their preferences will automatically transfer to another news platform.
Here is what Galaxy owners need to know about the Samsung News app discontinued in 2026, including the confirmed date, affected regions, data deletion and practical alternatives.
Samsung News Shutdown Date: What Galaxy Owners Need to Know
Samsung News is scheduled to discontinue service on December 21, 2026, at 00:00 UTC. The date appears in a notification displayed inside the Samsung News app, according to reports published by technology news outlets in October.
The announcement explains that Samsung News will no longer deliver content after the specified date. Its Home screen widget will also stop receiving fresh updates, and Samsung recommends removing the widget from the device.
The service has provided Galaxy users with a convenient way to view news headlines and other updates without opening multiple applications. Depending on the version and region, users may also have access to personalized topics, followed publications and curated news content.
However, the shutdown affects more than a small Home screen shortcut. Reports indicate that the dedicated Samsung News experience, including its media page, will also be discontinued.
Which countries are affected?
The first shutdown notices were reported in India and South Korea. However, Samsung has not published a comprehensive country-by-country list confirming where the service will end.
Some technology publications believe the shutdown could extend to additional markets. That remains an expectation rather than a confirmed worldwide announcement.
Galaxy owners in other countries should therefore check their own Samsung News applications instead of assuming their devices are either included or excluded.
For Indian users, 00:00 UTC on December 21 corresponds to 5:30 a.m. Indian Standard Time on the same date.
What Happens to Samsung News Data After December 21?
The shutdown is particularly important for people who have spent time customizing their Samsung News experience.
According to the reported in-app notice, Samsung plans to delete user data, profiles, and personalization information associated with Samsung News after the service ends.
This may affect preferences connected to the news experience, including followed topics and selected content sources. Users who rely on personalized feeds should consider recording their choices before the deadline.
There is an important distinction here: the reported deletion concerns information associated with Samsung News. It should not automatically be interpreted as the deletion of an entire Samsung account, Google account, personal photographs, contacts or unrelated files stored on a Galaxy device.
The reported notice also recognizes legal exceptions. Where local laws require Samsung to retain certain information, the company may keep the relevant records for the required period before deleting them.
Can users transfer their Samsung News preferences?
At the time of reporting, no dedicated export or automatic migration option had been identified in the available shutdown coverage.
That means users should not expect their followed publications, selected topics or personalized feed settings to appear automatically in Google Discover, Google News or another application.
The safest approach is to create a manual record of anything important before December 21.
What Galaxy Owners Should Save Before Samsung News Closes
Users do not need to wait until the final week to prepare. A few simple steps can help prevent the loss of useful reading preferences.
First, open Samsung News and check whether a shutdown notification appears. The notice is the clearest available indication that the service is scheduled to end for that particular app experience.
Next, review the publications, subjects and categories you follow. Take screenshots of your settings and make a written list of important sources. This can help you rebuild a similar feed in another news application.
If you use Samsung News for sports updates or stock information, record the teams, companies and other trackers you regularly follow. You may need to configure those interests separately in another service.
Also, save any useful articles or information that you want to revisit. Do not assume that your personalized reading history will remain accessible after the shutdown.
Here is a practical preparation checklist:
- Open Samsung News and look for the discontinuation notification.
- Screenshot your followed news sources and topics.
- Record important sports teams and stock trackers.
- Save useful articles or information you may need later.
- Choose another news application before the service ends.
- Remove the Samsung News widget when you no longer need it.
Samsung’s recommendation to remove the widget is primarily a Home screen cleanup step. The more important preparation is recording your preferences and finding another source for the content you regularly read.
Why Samsung News Is Closing and What Could Replace It?
Samsung has not publicly explained why it is discontinuing Samsung News. Therefore, claims that the decision is directly connected to low usage, advertising revenue or a particular technology strategy should be treated cautiously.
The shutdown also follows several changes to Samsung’s Home screen news experience.
Samsung introduced Bixby Home in 2017, followed by Samsung Daily in 2019. Samsung Free later replaced that experience, and Samsung News arrived in 2023 as another version of the company’s content-discovery service.
The latest decision represents another change for Galaxy owners who have become accustomed to checking news through the leftmost Home screen panel.
For now, Samsung has not confirmed a dedicated replacement that will reproduce every Samsung News feature.
Could Google Discover take over?
Google Discover is a practical alternative for Galaxy users who want a personalized feed directly on their Home screen.
Samsung Community guidance shared by a moderator points users toward this option through the Home screen settings. On supported devices, users can generally check:
Settings > Home screen > Add media page to Home screen > Google Discover.
The exact wording and availability may vary depending on the Galaxy model, software version and region.
Google Discover offers recommended articles based on users’ interests and Google activity. However, it does not necessarily reproduce Samsung News’ exact source-following options, briefings or other regional features.
Google News is another option for readers who prefer following publishers, subjects and news categories. Flipboard and dedicated RSS reader applications may also suit people who want greater control over the publications appearing in their feeds.
The best alternative depends on how someone uses Samsung News. Casual readers may find Discover sufficient, while people who carefully follow particular publishers may prefer a dedicated news reader.
What Galaxy Users Should Do Now: Final Verdict
The Samsung News app discontinued 2026 announcement is an important update for Galaxy owners who depend on the built-in service for everyday headlines, sports information and personalized news.
The confirmed shutdown date reported in the in-app notice is December 21, 2026, at 00:00 UTC. After that point, the service will stop delivering content, and its widget will no longer receive updates.
The most important step is to check Samsung News directly. Users who receive the notification should record their followed publications, topics and trackers
Refernces
- Android Authority – Samsung Is Killing Another Key Galaxy Service
Android Authority - PhoneArena – Check Your Galaxy Phone: Samsung Is Shutting Down a Built-in Feature
PhoneArena
Both provide supporting coverage of the December 21, 2026 shutdown, data deletion and the impact on Galaxy users.
