October 30, 2026, 10:18 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Samsung will end its news service on Galaxy smartphones and tablets in December 2026. The app, widget, and news page on the home screen will be affected. User data stored by the service will also be deleted. Samsung has not announced a direct successor. However, Google Discover is already available as an alternative on many devices.
App, Widget, and News Page Affected
The Samsung news service will be shut down on December 21, 2026, at 12 a.m. UTC. The announcement was initially made in South Korea and India, as reported by “SamMobile.” However, the shutdown is expected for all markets.
Three components of the service are affected: the standalone Samsung News app, the associated widget, and the news page, which can be accessed on many Galaxy devices by swiping left on the home screen.
Samsung recommends removing the widget from the device after the service ends. Subsequently, only Google Discover is likely to be available on the left side of the home screen, which is already available as an alternative.
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Samsung Plans to Delete Stored User Data
The discontinuation of the news service also includes plans to delete the associated user data. This affects both profiles and saved settings used for personalizing the service.
An exception exists if local laws require the temporary storage of certain data. After the respective legal period expires, this information will also be permanently deleted.
Samsung has not yet announced a direct replacement for Samsung News. However, Google Discover can already be selected as an alternative on Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Recently, Samsung also discontinued the similar Daily Plus service for its TVs and smart monitors.
Also of interest: Samsung TVs also listen through soundbars
Several Predecessors Since 2017
Samsung News was launched in 2023 to compete with Google Discover and Apple News. However, it was Samsung’s fourth attempt to establish its own news service on its devices.
Samsung News followed Samsung Free, which had previously replaced Samsung Daily, launched in October 2019. Its predecessor was the Bixby Home Feed, introduced in April 2017. None of these offerings could compete with Google Discover. The discontinuation of Samsung News also comes during a period of declining smartphone sales, as Samsung cuts costs and eliminates less successful services.