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 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:
- On your device, open Google Messages
.
- Tap Get started
Next.
- 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.
- On your device, open Google Messages
- At the top right, tap your profile picture or icon
- Tap RCS chats.
- 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:
- Used 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 
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 messagesTo turn on read receipts:
- On your device, open Google Messages
- Tap your profile picture or icon
- Tap RCS chats.
- Tip: If you can't find 'RCS chats', tap Chat features.
- Tap Send read receipts.
To find out when others have read your message, they must turn on read receipts in Settings.
To turn on typing indicators:
- On your device, open Google Messages
- Tap your profile picture or icon
- Tap RCS chats.
- Tip: If you can't find 'RCS chats', tap Chat features.
- Tap Show typing indicators.
If you've tried unsuccessfully to send a message over Wi-Fi or mobile data, you can choose how to resend a message:
- On your device, open Google Messages
- Tap your profile picture or icon
- Tap RCS chats.
- Tip: If you can't find 'RCS chats', tap Chat features.
- Tap Resend messages.
- 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.
Find out if your message is 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 send:
- 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.