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 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 carrier 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 carrier 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:

1. On your device, open Google Messages .
2. Tap Get Started Next.
3. To keep Google Messages connected, tap Yes.

If you can't turn on RCS chats, learn how to troubleshoot.

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.

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

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 use 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 you've read their messages

To turn on read receipts:

1. On your device, open Google Messages .
2. Tap your profile picture or icon Messages settings.
3. Tap RCS chats.
   • Tip: If you can't find "RCS chats," tap Chat features.
4. Tap Send read receipts.

To find out when others have read your message, they must turn on read receipts in Settings.

Show others when you're typing in a conversation with them

To turn on typing indicators:

1. On your device, open Google Messages .
2. Tap your profile picture or icon Messages settings.
3. Tap RCS chats.
   • Tip: If you can't find "RCS chats," tap Chat features.
4. Tap Show typing indicators.

If sending a message doesn't work, choose how to resend it

If you tried unsuccessfully to send a message over Wi-Fi or mobile data, you can choose how to resend a message:

1. On your device, open Google Messages .
2. Tap your profile picture or icon Messages settings.
3. Tap RCS chats.
   • Tip: If you can't find "RCS chats," tap Chat features.
4. Tap Resend messages.
5. Choose how to resend a message.
   • Important: If you choose the option to send as “SMS with a link,” your media could be accessible by a public link not controlled by Google.

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 & sign out.
9. In the confirmation dialog, 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 & 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 is sent by mobile data, SMS, or MMS

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

• Send by Wi-Fi or mobile data
• Send by SMS
• Send by 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 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