Google Messages Keeps Crashing On Android: 9 Fixes (2026)

Google Messages opens, then closes itself a few seconds later, and you cannot read or send texts.

This usually comes from a bad app update, corrupted cache, or a beta build, and it is fixable without losing your conversations.

Work through the fixes below in order, and most people are back to texting in about 10 minutes.

Which fix matches your crash?

What you see	Try first	Risk to messages
Crashes right after an app update	Uninstall Messages updates	None, per reports
Crashes after a few seconds on the chat list	Leave the beta, then reinstall	None
Random crashes	Force stop, then clear cache	None
Still crashing after cache	Update Android and Messages	None
Nothing helps	Back up, then clear storage	Local data reset

Check that you are not simply out of storage first, since a full phone makes any app crash.

Rule out low storage before anything drastic

Google says phone problems tend to start when less than 10% of storage is free.

Open Settings > Storage to see how much space is left.

If it is nearly full, delete unused apps and downloads, then restart and open Messages again.

Our Android freezing guide covers the storage cleanup steps in more detail.

Why does Google Messages keep crashing?

A specific app build is often to blame, and in August 2025 a beta build of Google Messages crashed on Samsung and Pixel phones running Android 16.

Reports at the time said the app closed a few seconds after the chat list loaded, and clearing the cache did not help.

Uninstalling the update fixed it for some users, and it did not delete their messages.

• 1. Force stopQuick reset
• 2. Clear cacheSafe
• 3. UpdateApp and Android
• 4. ReinstallBeta or stable
• 5. Clear dataBack up first

1. Force stop Messages and reopen it

1. Open Settings > Apps > See all apps.
2. Tap Messages.
3. Tap Force stop and confirm.
4. Open Messages again and send a test text.

Menu names vary a little by phone, so use the Settings search box if you do not see these exact labels.

2. Clear the app cache

Clearing the cache removes temporary files only, so your conversations stay.

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Storage.
2. Tap Clear cache.
3. Reopen Messages.

If the crash began with a bad beta build, the SamMobile report says clearing the cache did not fix it.

3. Update Google Messages and Android

Open the Play Store, search for Google Messages, and tap Update if the button appears.

Then check for a system update under Settings > System > Software update on Pixel and most Android phones, or Settings > Software update on Samsung.

Restart the phone after each update and test again.

4. Leave the Messages beta program

A beta build can crash even when the stable one is fine.

1. Open the Play Store and tap your profile icon.
2. Tap Manage apps & devices and choose Beta.
3. Open the Messages page and tap Leave under “You’re a beta tester”.
4. Uninstall the beta version and reinstall the public one from the Play Store.

Note: Google says leaving a beta can erase progress or customizations, and you may not get your tester spot back.

5. Uninstall updates or reinstall Messages

If Messages is preinstalled, the Play Store shows Uninstall, which removes the updates and returns the app to its factory version.

Restart the phone, then tap Update or Install to get a clean copy.

Uninstalling the app does not delete your messages, according to reports on the August 2025 crash.

6. Check which app is your default SMS app

Open Messages and accept the prompt to make it your default messaging app if it appears.

Or go to Settings > Apps > Google Messages, choose SMS, and select Google Messages as the default.

Google lists this as requiring Android 6.0 or later.

7. Clear storage only after a backup

Clearing data resets Messages to a fresh install, so back up first.

Step	Where
Check what is backed up	Settings > Google services > Backup, then Backup details
SMS and MMS	Included in the general device backup
RCS chats	Backed up when you use Google Messages
Clear data	Settings > Apps > Messages > Storage > Clear data

Do this only after cache, updates, and a reinstall have all failed.

8. Use another messaging app while you wait

If a bad build keeps crashing and no fix has arrived, you can switch to the stable Google Messages build or to Samsung Messages on a Galaxy.

Make the app you pick your default SMS app so texts reach it.

9. Test in Safe mode on a Galaxy

Safe mode runs the phone without most third-party apps, so it shows whether another app is causing the crashes.

1. Hold the Power key until the power-off screen appears.
2. Touch and hold Power off until Safe mode appears.
3. Tap Safe mode and open Messages.

To leave Safe mode, hold the Power key and tap Restart.

If Messages stops crashing there, Samsung says to remove recently downloaded apps one at a time.

If it still crashes in Safe mode, an app is unlikely to be the cause.

What if the Google app also force closes on a Galaxy?

Samsung lists a separate fix for a “Google forced closed” error.

1. Go to Settings → Apps → Google → Storage.
2. Tap Clear all data.
3. If the error continues, open Settings → Apps → Google and tap Force stop.

Last resort: factory reset and Samsung help

Back up your data first, because a factory reset deletes everything on the phone.

The Samsung path is Settings → General management → Reset → Factory data reset.

For unusual behavior, you can also send an error report or ask a question in the Samsung Members app.

Related guides

• Google Messages RCS not working.
• Android not receiving texts or SMS.
• Google Messages tips and features.
• Set the default messaging app on a Galaxy phone.

Official sources: Google: set Messages as default, Google: back up and restore messages, and Google Play: leave an app beta.