Samsung is shutting down this built-in Galaxy feature: Check if your phone is

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The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now. Read Today's Paper Samsung is shutting down this built-in Galaxy feature: Check if your phone is affectedBy Shawn Dass, ET OnlineLast Updated: Oct 31, 2026, 04:05:00 PM ISTSynopsis

Samsung has officially confirmed that it will cease operations of its news service, Samsung News, starting December 21, 2026. This decision will halt all updates, affecting the app, widget, and home-screen integration. Users in India and South Korea have been notified of this impending shutdown, and all personal data collected through the platform will be permanently erased.

Samsung Galaxy users may soon lose a familiar way to catch up on the latest headlines. The company is shutting down Samsung News, its built-in news service that brings stories, sports updates and stock information to Galaxy phones and tablets. The change is currently confirmed in India and South Korea, and users have been advised to check the app for an official notice.

Samsung News Shutdown Date: When Will The Feature Stop Working?

Samsung News will be discontinued on December 21, 2026, at 00:00 UTC, according to a notice displayed inside the app. The announcement was first reported by SamMobile and later covered by Android Authority. The shutdown will affect more than the standalone app. The Samsung News widget will stop receiving content updates, while the dedicated news feed on the left side of the Galaxy home screen will also be discontinued. Samsung has not publicly explained why it is ending the service. Reports have so far identified India and South Korea as the markets where users have received the shutdown notice. Other regions could follow, but a wider rollout has not been officially confirmed.

What Is Samsung News And Why Is It Being Removed?

Samsung News gives users access to news stories, sports scores and stock updates through an app, widget and home-screen feed. It launched in 2023, replacing Samsung Free. The move is part of a longer history of changes to Samsung’s news services. Samsung Free had replaced Samsung Daily, while Samsung Daily took over from Bixby Home. Android Authority noted that Samsung News had struggled to become a major alternative to Google Discover, which is already available on Galaxy devices. However, Samsung has not confirmed that Google Discover will be the official replacement.

Samsung News Shutdown: What Happens To Your Data?

Samsung’s in-app notice says that personal information collected through Samsung News, including user profiles and personalisation settings, will be deleted after the service ends. Some information may be retained if local laws require it. Samsung says such data will be kept only for the period required by law.

Users who rely on the news feed should check their app for the shutdown message and consider saving any preferences or information they may want to keep. Samsung has also recommended removing the Samsung News widget from the home screen once it stops updating. For now, Galaxy owners in India and South Korea should check Samsung News for the notice. Users in other countries may not be affected yet, as Samsung has not announced a global shutdown date.
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