The RCS messaging protocol has been a long time coming. While iPhone owners have had interactive iMessages for years, Android users used third-party messaging apps, as carriers were slow to warm up to RCS. Google has been leading the push for RCS in recent years, and Messages’ adoption of the RCS standard has made the app better and brought interactive texting to Android.
With RCS, Android’s Messages app offers features like typing indicators, inline replies, group chats, video calls, and photo and video sharing. RCS messaging works on all Android phones, whether you have a Google Pixel 8 Pro or rocking a budget phone.
What is RCS Messaging, and what’s different about it vs. regular text messages (SMS)?
Rich Communications Services (RCS) is a communication protocol that will ultimately replace MMS and SMS messages on Android devices. Although the protocol was created in 2007, it failed to take off until recently.
Google worked closely with the GSMA, its members, and carriers around the globe to create a universal profile for RCS that uses Android’s Messages client in 2019. Many Android users can use RCS Messaging now, but the messaging protocol isn’t supported on iOS.
The RCS update offers a better overall messaging experience with features similar to what you find on iMessage, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger. Encrypted messaging, enhanced media sharing, group chats, and real-time typing indicators are a few of the improvements that come with RCS chat.
Source: Google
Most modern Android phones ship with Google Messages as the default texting app, which includes RCS. You’ve probably used RCS when texting other Android users with a smartphone. The issue comes when texting someone who uses an iPhone. Apple continues to refuse to adopt RCS despite Google’s high-pressure RCS shaming campaign. While a world where Android and iPhone offer a unified messaging experience would be ideal, Apple’s hesitation seems justified since it took RCS over a decade to gain traction with carriers and OEMs.
This guide focuses on the Google Messages app, the default on Google Pixel phones, and those from Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, and others. If Google Messages isn’t preinstalled on your phone, download it. A few regions may not support RCS Chat, but it’s available in many of Android’s most populous markets.
This guide focuses on the Google Messages app, the default on Google Pixel phones and those from Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, and others. If Google Messages isn’t preinstalled on your phone, download it from the Play Store. Although the feature isn’t available in every region or on every carrier, Google announced more than 800 million people currently use RCS Messages during its 2023 I/O keynote address.
Google Messages may prompt you to activate RCS before you set it up
Most of the time, the Messages app prompts you to activate RCS if you haven’t already. If the prompt below shows up, you’re ready to set up and use RCS.
You can tell you’re sending RCS Chat messages when the input dialog box says Chat message or RCS message. If Google Messages doesn’t prompt you to turn on RCS Chat, follow the instructions in the next section to turn it on.
How to turn on RCS Chats in the Google Messages app
If you’re opening the Google Messages app for the first time or resetting your phone, you may need to activate chat features manually.
- Open the Messages app.
- Tap your Google account profile picture in the upper-right corner for more options.
- Select Messages settings to check the current selection and make changes if needed.
- Choose the first option, RCS chats.
- If the toggle switch for Turn on RCS chats is off (circle on the left side), tap it to turn it on.
- You might be asked to verify your phone number.
- You’ll see Status:Connected when verification is complete. When you’re connected, RCS is ready to go.
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How to turn off RCS chat
Even though RCS improves the texting experience, it might not be the preferred solution for everyone. You may want to turn it off if you decide RCS isn’t for you. If you have issues with the connection, turning off the setting and reactivating it might be a good reason to do so.
To turn off the RCS chat features on your device, do the following:
- Open the Messages app.
- Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
- Choose Messages settings, then tap RCS chats.
- If Turn on RCS chats is activated (circle on the right side), switch it off.
- A pop-up window warns that you’ll be removed from group RCS chats. Tap Turn off to continue.
With RCS turned off, the messages you send and receive revert to traditional SMS/MMS text format until you activate RCS again. Turning off RCS before you get a new phone is also advisable to avoid potential messaging issues from the previous device. If you keep your old phone, it’s easy to deactivate these settings. If you no longer have access to it, Google has a form you can fill out to deregister your phone number.
To avoid issues, don’t turn the chat features off and on multiple times in a short amount of time. Some people have been temporarily blocked from RCS chats when the feature is toggled on and off multiple times.
Check out Google’s recommendations
if you’re locked out of RCS.
How to know if your message is sent by data, SMS, or MMS
You can tell how your message will be sent by looking at the Send icon while composing your message.
- A regular send arrow or an arrow with a lock icon indicates Wi-Fi or mobile data.
- A send arrow with SMS written under indicates SMS.
- A send arrow with MMS written under indicates MMS.
Understanding RCS chat statuses
Your RCS chat status tells you if RCS is activated on your device. To find it:
- Tap your profile icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
- Select Messages settings from the drop-down menu.
- Select General from the options.
- Tap RCS chats.
The first option is the status, and it can be one of the following:
- Connected: Shows that you can use RCS chats with people who have them activated.
- Setting up: Indicates that Google is verifying your phone number. This should take a few minutes. If it takes longer, tap Retry next to the status.
- Disconnected: Means that RCS chats are temporarily unavailable. Ensure your internet connection is active and check again.
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What RCS features does Google Messages have?
RCS chat can share high-resolution photos and videos, an improvement over traditional texts. You can also send messages over Wi-Fi and mobile data. You can identify whether someone turned on RCS by checking for a bubble badge on the home screen.
In the RCS chats section of the Settings menu, you’ll see more options to enhance your chats:
You can turn on the features you need and deactivate the ones you don’t need.
- Send read receipts: This feature marks a message as delivered after sending or read when the recipient sees it. A single check mark indicates that your message was sent, a double check means your message was delivered, and a color-filled double check indicates that the recipient read your message. To turn on read receipts, go to Messages settings > RCS chats > Send read receipts.
- Show typing indicators: Turning this on lets others know you’re typing, indicating that your reply is in progress. To turn on typing indicators, navigate to Messages settings > RCS chats > Show typing indicators.
- Automatically resend as text (SMS/MMS): If switched on, your message is sent as a traditional text if RCS isn’t available.
- Automatically download files you receive over mobile data: This control limits the size of files or turns off downloads when using mobile data.
- Automatically download files while roaming: This toggle is off by default to prevent the possibility of extra carrier charges.
Google Messages has plenty of built-in features that work by default:
- Message reactions: If both users have RCS turned on, you can react to each other’s messages. Press and hold the message you want to react to, and a menu with emoji to select pops up. Tap the emoji you want to react with, and the other person can see your reaction. This works for all users, with or without RCS.
- Group messages: A group message is created if all users texted have RCS. This group message lets all users take advantage of RCS features. For instance, if one person is typing, the other users see that.
- End-to-end encryption: Encryption is activated if both users have RCS. You’re using encryption when you see a lock icon next to your read receipt on a message you sent. RCS chat uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption. This means messages appear as unreadable text to anyone attempting to intercept your messages.
- Respond to individual messages: You can respond to a specific message in a conversation to make it clear what you’re responding to. Hold down the message and tap the arrow that pops up to reply to the specific message.
- Watch YouTube videos in app: If someone sends a link to a YouTube video, you can watch it in the app and respond quickly.
- Smart reply: These one-tap responses make basic communication super quick and easy.
There shouldn’t be carrier charges when you use RCS chat on Wi-Fi. When you’re away from Wi-Fi, the only charge is for mobile data, which is minimal when sending text. Be careful with video sharing if your mobile data plan is limited.
No more iMessage envy with Google Messages and RCS
RCS messaging is a step up from regular texting, with features like end-to-end encryption, media sharing, location sharing, and typing indicators. Despite this, Apple continues to snub the RCS standard. However, Google has made it easier than ever for Android users to interact with iMessages. Then, to do more with Google Messages, try some easy tips to improve your messaging experience.
