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RCS is now available for texting between Android and iPhones. Learn how to turn on RCS chats on your Android phone (link).

RCS chats by Google FAQ

What are RCS chats?

Rich Communication Services (RCS) chats provide an upgraded, rich messaging experience. RCS chats:

  • Show you when someone is typing.
  • Offer read receipts, which show when someone has read or received your message. Read receipts also show your contact when you read their message.
  • Send messages over mobile data and Wi-Fi.
  • Let you share files and high-resolution photos.

When you use RCS chats, your messages are sent with the Rich Communication Services (RCS) protocol over Wi-Fi and mobile data. RCS chats will be turned on only when all the participants in a conversation have RCS. RCS chats are provided by Google or your mobile carrier.

What devices work with RCS chats?
Rich Communication Services (RCS) are available on Android devices and other devices where RCS is turned on in settings. Check your carrier and device settings. Availability of RCS varies by region and carrier.
What happens if I don’t have data, or the recipient isn’t online?

Google Messages can still be sent as SMS or MMS.

You can check and set your default option when RCS isn't available:

  1. Open Google Messages .
  2. At the top right, tap your profile photo or icon and then Messages settings and then RCS chats and then Resend messages.
  3. Choose your default option:
    • Always resend as SMS/MMS
    • Resend as SMS/MMS when not roaming
    • Ask before resending
    • Never resend as SMS/MMS
What if RCS chats aren't available for my device?

To check your RCS availability and status:

  • Tap on your profile photo or icon and then Messages settings and then RCS chats.
    • Tip: If you can't find "RCS chats," tap Chat features.

To troubleshoot your RCS chats connection:

  1. Update Google Messages and your Carrier Services from Play Store.
  2. Make sure Google Messages is set as your default SMS app.
  3. If your device has dual SIM slots, and both SIMs are inserted, make sure your Call SIM is configured as your Data SIM:
    1. On your Android device, open your Settings.
    2. Tap Network & Internet.
    3. Make sure your Call SIM is configured as Data.
What if my RCS chats status shows that my carrier doesn't support, or I’m ineligible to receive RCS?
We're working to bring RCS support to more countries/regions and carriers.
My RCS chats status says “Setting up.” How do I get RCS chats?

When we're in the process of verifying your phone number, your RCS chats status displays “Setting up.” If the “Setting up” status remains for more than a day, it means Google Messages can’t verify your phone number.

To verify your phone number:

  1. Go to your profile photo or icon and then Messages settings and then RCS chats. Tap RETRY and confirm your phone number when requested.
    • Tip: If you can't find "RCS chats," tap Chat features.
  2. Google will send an SMS to confirm your phone number.
  3. Make sure you can receive SMS messages.
How do I know if my message was sent?

Google Messages tells you when your message has been sent, received, and read through the icons next to your message:

Important: These icons won't show on SMS or MMS messages.

  • Timer : Your message is being sent.
  • Single check : Your message has been sent.
  • Double check : Your message has been delivered.
  • Color-filled double check : Your message has been read.
I don't currently use Google Messages, what happens if I switch my default app to use Google Messages and start to use RCS chats?

You can make Google Messages your default app as described here. You won’t lose any existing SMS/MMS messages if you change your default app to Google Messages and you’ll be able to use Google Messages’ benefits such as Google Messages for Web, Smart Replies, and RCS chats (where supported).

If your previous messaging app supports proprietary features or non-interoperable forms of messaging (not SMS, MMS or interoperable RCS), you won't be able to use those features after you switch.

Will features like typing indicators and read receipts work when the recipient doesn't have RCS chats?

No, but standard text messaging via SMS/MMS will still work.  

Information we use

To make sure your messages are properly delivered, Google uses information like your phone number, device identifiers, and SIM card number. This data may be stored for about a month to keep you connected to RCS and in cases where you temporarily go offline.

When you turn on RCS chats, and each time you send a message, Google checks your contacts to find out if they can also use RCS chats. These checks may go through Google’s RCS infrastructure and other service providers to reach your contacts.
What is the group chat experience when I include people who don’t have RCS chats?
If all the participants don’t have RCS chats turned on, you still may be able to create SMS/MMS groups.
Know if additional cost apply in RCS chats
When you use RCS chats, your messages are sent over Wi-Fi and mobile data. As long as you're connected to a Wi-Fi network that you don't have to pay to use, there’s no additional cost to send and receive messages. If your messages are sent using mobile data, the cost is based on your mobile data plan.

How RCS chats work between Android and iOS

You can now use Rich Communication Service (RCS) chats between Android and iPhones. When you chat with an iPhone user friend, you can:

  • See typing indicators in 1:1 conversations
  • Read receipts in 1:1 conversations
  • Manage group chats
  • Send high-resolution photos and videos

Turn on RCS on an Android or iOS device

Turn on RCS chats on Android devices Turn on RCS chats on iOS devices
Please contact your carrier for instructions on how to enable RCS for iPhone.

FAQs about RCS messaging between Android and iOS

Country or region availability for RCS on iOS devices
RCS chats may not be available to iPhone users depending on users' country and carrier. For more information about whether you can use RCS on your iPhone, contact your carrier.
Android texts appear as a green bubble when texting with iPhone users
Apple displays text messages that don’t come from an iPhone user as green bubbles. This is also true for messages from other iPhone users who have iMessage disabled.
RCS chats with iPhone users don’t have end-to-end encryption
Google Messages offers end-to-end encryption for your RCS messages with other Google Messages users. The GSM Association (GSMA) sets Mobile and RCS standards and we are currently working to define security standards cross platform.

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