Turn on RCS chats in Google Messages

With Rich Communication Services or RCS, a modern industry standard for messaging, you can have a more dynamic and secure conversation with someone than through SMS or MMS. Learn about Rich Communication Services messaging.

Turn on RCS chats for the first time

When RCS chats are turned on, you can send messages over Wi-Fi and use other features.

If your operator and device aren't automatically set up for RCS chats, you may be offered RCS chats. You might be asked to provide your phone number.

Important: You may occasionally receive a text from Jibe Mobile from Google to verify your phone number. RCS chats are available for your default or preferred call SIM at this time and may be available for other SIMs later. Manage your default call SIM in your system settings. To learn how to use dual SIM settings, contact your device manufacturer.

If your operator supports RCS but your device isn't automatically set up for RCS chats, you may get a notification to 'Do more with Google Messages'. If you get this notification:

Turn RCS chats on or off

Important: If you do not turn off RCS chats in settings to stop sending and receiving RCS messages when you remove a SIM card from your device, RCS chats may continue to work for up to 14 days.

Tips:

• If you can't find 'RCS chats', tap Chat features.
• If you're not connected, tap Verify your number.
• You can also use the Google Messages deactivation web portal to turn off RCS chats.

Use the deactivation portal if you:

• Need to restart the phone number verification process because the Google Messages app shows 'Trying to verify' for some time.
  • Tip: After you've used the deactivation portal, go back into the Google Messages app settings and toggle RCS chats on.
• Use your phone number with an old phone and don't receive text messages on your new phone.
• Lose or break your phone but still have your phone number.
• Change messaging apps on the same phone and aren't receiving messages.

Understand RCS chat status

To find your status, go to Settings RCS chats. If you can't find 'RCS chats', tap Chat features.

The possible statuses are:

• Connected: RCS chats are ready to use with other people who have them turned on.
• Setting up: Google Messages is verifying your phone number. If verification takes more than a few minutes, next to the status, tap Retry.
• Disconnected: RCS chats are temporarily unavailable. Check that you're connected to the Internet.

Turn specific features in RCS chats on or off

Let others know that you've read their messages Show others when you're typing in a conversation with them If sending a message doesn't work, choose how to resend it

Syncing with Google Fi

If you're a Google Fi user and have been syncing texts, calls and voicemail, RCS chats will be disabled for your phone number. To stop syncing, use RCS chats:

1. On your device, open Google Messages .
2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial.
3. Tap Messages settings Advanced Google Fi Wireless settings.
4. Tap Sign in to your Google Fi account.
5. Select your account.
6. In the 'Using RCS chats?', select Turn off.
7. On the next screen, tap Sync conversations.
8. At the bottom, tap Stop sync and sign out.
9. In the confirmation dialogue, tap Stop syncing.

After that, clear data for Google Messages:

1. On your device, open Settings .
2. Tap Apps.
   • If all apps aren't there, tap See all apps or App info.
3. Tap Messages Force stop OK.
4. Tap Storage and cache Clear storage.

Check if RCS is turned on:

1. On your device, open Google Messages .
2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial.
3. Tap Messages settings RCS chats Turn on RCS chats.

Find out if your message will be sent by mobile data, SMS or MMS

The send icon in the compose bar displays the method via which your message will be sent. These are the possible ways in which your messages will be sent:

• Send via Wi-Fi or mobile data
• Send via SMS
• Send via MMS

About Carrier Services

Carrier Services provides services to support RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging in Google Messages. It collects diagnostic and crash data to ensure that these services operate smoothly.

Related resources

• RCS chats by Google FAQ
• Google Messages by Google community
• Can't turn on RCS chats
• How RCS chats keep your conversations secure