Use an authorised Samsung News screenshot or properly licensed Samsung device photograph. Summary: Samsung is discontinuing its Samsung News app on 21 December 2026, ending content delivery through the app, its home-screen widget and its associated news feed in affected markets. The company says personal information collected through the service will be deleted after shutdown, except where local regulations require temporary retention.
Samsung to Shut Down Samsung News App in December 2026 — What Happens to Users' Data?
Samsung is preparing to discontinue Samsung News, its news aggregation service available on selected Galaxy smartphones and tablets.
The company has informed users that the service will officially end on 21 December 2026 at 00:00 UTC. Following the shutdown, the application will stop delivering news content, while its associated headlines widget will no longer receive updates.
The announcement also addresses what will happen to information collected from people who use the service. Samsung says personal information associated with Samsung News will be deleted without undue delay after the service ends, except where local laws require certain records to be retained for a specified period.
The development affects more than just the news application. Users who rely on the Samsung News widget or its dedicated home-screen feed will also lose access to those features.
However, the shutdown is not yet confirmed as a universal change across every country. Initial discontinuation notices were reported in India and South Korea, and Samsung users elsewhere should check whether they have received an announcement for their region.
When Will Samsung News Stop Working?
According to the discontinuation notice displayed within the Samsung News application, the service is scheduled to end on:
Date: 21 December 2026
Time: 00:00 UTC
For users in Nigeria, this corresponds to 1:00 a.m. on 21 December 2026, if the same shutdown schedule applies in their market.
Samsung has advised users that the related headlines widget will no longer receive new content after the discontinuation.
The company has also recommended that users remove the Samsung News widget from their home screens.
The shutdown affects three connected parts of the experience:
- Samsung News application: The service will stop delivering news and other content.
- Samsung News widget: Existing headlines widgets will no longer receive new content updates.
- Home-screen news feed: The dedicated Samsung News media page will no longer provide its previous news experience in affected markets.
Users should not assume that every Galaxy device worldwide will lose these features on the same date until Samsung provides regional confirmation.
Why Is Samsung Discontinuing the News App?
Samsung has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for the decision in the discontinuation notice.
The company has simply informed users that the service is ending and explained what will happen to its associated widget and personal information.
Samsung News was introduced in April 2023 as part of the company's efforts to provide Galaxy users with a convenient way to follow news and other information.
The application offered access to daily headlines, sports scores, stock updates and content from participating publishers.
Before Samsung News, the company had introduced several similar home-screen information services:
- Bixby Home: Launched in 2017.
- Samsung Daily: Introduced in 2019.
- Samsung Free: Replaced Samsung Daily in 2020.
- Samsung News: Introduced in 2023.
Samsung News was the latest version of this news and content experience.
The company has not confirmed whether another Samsung-developed application will replace the service or whether its decision is part of a wider strategy to simplify its software offerings.
What Will Happen to Users' Personal Data?
One of the most important questions raised by the announcement concerns user privacy.
Samsung says that personal information collected in connection with Samsung News will be deleted without undue delay after the service is discontinued.
This means the company intends to remove information associated with the news service rather than continue retaining it indefinitely.
However, there is an exception.
Samsung explains that certain information may need to be retained where local laws and regulations require it.
In such cases, the information will be kept only for the legally required period and deleted when that retention obligation ends.
Does this mean Samsung will delete everything on your phone?
No.
The announcement concerns personal information collected through Samsung News.
It should not be interpreted as Samsung deleting users' photographs, videos, contacts, WhatsApp conversations, phone files or information belonging to unrelated Samsung services.
The discontinuation is specific to Samsung News and its associated service data.
Samsung has not provided a detailed public breakdown of every category of information that will be deleted.
Users who are concerned about their information should review the privacy information applicable to Samsung News in their region.
What Happens to the Samsung News Widget?
The Samsung News widget allows Galaxy users to view selected headlines and news information directly from their home screens.
With the service ending, the widget will stop receiving new content.
Samsung has recommended removing it from the home screen.
To remove the widget, users can generally:
- Open their phone's home screen.
- Locate the Samsung News widget.
- Press and hold the widget.
- Select the Remove option.
The exact menu wording may differ depending on the Galaxy device and One UI version.
Removing the widget does not require deleting unrelated applications or resetting the phone.
What Can Samsung Users Use Instead?
Although Samsung has not announced a direct replacement for Samsung News, Galaxy users may have other ways to access news and personalised content.
One alternative is Google Discover, which is available on supported Galaxy devices and can provide personalised articles based on users' interests.
Depending on the phone and software version, users may be able to activate it through the home-screen settings:
- Open your phone's Settings.
- Select Home screen.
- Look for Add media page to Home screen.
- Enable the option and select Google Discover, where available.
The exact instructions may vary by device and software version.
Users can also access news through individual media applications, publisher websites and other news aggregation services.
Samsung has not confirmed that Google Discover will automatically replace Samsung News on every affected device.
What Does This Mean for Samsung Galaxy Users in Nigeria?
For Samsung users in Nigeria, the most important issue is whether Samsung will implement the same discontinuation schedule in the Nigerian market.
Reports initially identified discontinuation notices in India and South Korea. The available information does not establish that every country has received the same notification.
Nigerian Galaxy users should therefore:
- Check whether a discontinuation notice appears inside their Samsung News application.
- Watch for further announcements from Samsung Nigeria.
- Avoid installing unofficial applications claiming to restore the discontinued service.
- Consider alternatives such as Google Discover or trusted news applications.
- Remove the Samsung News widget after the service is discontinued if it remains on the home screen.
Until Samsung confirms regional availability, users in Nigeria should not assume that their version of Samsung News will stop working on precisely the same date.
A Wider Change to Samsung's Software Experience
Samsung's decision marks another change in the company's approach to delivering information through Galaxy devices.
The company has previously replaced Bixby Home with Samsung Daily, then Samsung Free and eventually Samsung News.
Now, the latest service is approaching its scheduled shutdown.
For users who regularly rely on the application to follow headlines, sports and financial updates, the change means they will need to find another way to access that information.
The announcement also highlights the importance of transparency when technology companies discontinue services that collect personal information.
Samsung has stated that data associated with Samsung News will be deleted after the service ends, subject to legal retention obligations.
What remains unclear is whether Samsung will provide a direct replacement and when users in all other regions will receive formal discontinuation notices.
Sources and further information:
- FOX 5 report: https://www.fox5ny.com/news/samsung-discontinues-preinstalled-app-whats-happening-users-data
- SamMobile: https://www.sammobile.com/news/samsung-news-shut-down-galaxy-phones-tablets/
- Android Authority: https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-news-shutdown-december-2026-3729509/
- Samsung official website: https://www.samsung.com/
