How to Turn On RCS Chats in Google Messages (Android)

RCS chats let you send high-quality media, see typing indicators and read receipts and message over Wi-Fi or mobile data. In Google Messages it is a setting that you switch on once. Menu names can differ slightly between versions and phone brands, but the steps below match the current app. We also explain what changes for the people you write to, what to do if the status gets stuck and how RCS behaves with iPhones.

Before you start

• Use an Android phone with Google Messages installed and set as your default SMS app.
• Insert a SIM card whose number is active, and connect to Wi-Fi or mobile data.
• Update Google Messages in the Play Store.
• Make sure your carrier and country support RCS. In some regions it is rolled out gradually.

Set Google Messages as the default app

1. Open Settings, then Apps, then Default apps.
2. Choose SMS app (or Messaging app) and select Google Messages.

Turn on RCS chats

1. Open Google Messages.
2. Tap your profile picture or the menu icon, then Messages settings.
3. Tap RCS chats.
4. Switch on "Turn on RCS chats" and, when asked, verify your phone number.

The status first shows "Setting up", then "Connected". Once it says Connected, conversations with people who also have RCS will show "RCS" in the message box.

If it stays on "Setting up"

• Check that your SIM can receive an SMS for verification and that the number is entered correctly.
• Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or the other way round, and try again.
• Clear the cache of Google Messages in Settings, Apps.
• Make sure the date and time are set automatically.
• Restart the phone and turn RCS chats off and on again.
• Check whether your carrier or country supports RCS.

Avoid unofficial workarounds that install extra tools to force RCS. They can break messaging and put your account at risk.

What the other person sees

Situation	What happens
Both have RCS and data	Message goes as RCS: typing indicator, read receipts, full-quality photos
Other person has no RCS or no data	Message goes as SMS or MMS automatically
Recipient uses an iPhone with RCS support	RCS can be used between the two phones on recent software

Privacy and safety

• RCS is not always end-to-end encrypted. Look for the lock icon in the conversation; encryption depends on the app version and the other phone.
• Never send passwords or verification codes by any text channel.
• Be careful with links from unknown senders, as with SMS.

Frequently asked questions

Does RCS cost money?

RCS uses data instead of SMS credit, so it is usually free with a data plan or on Wi-Fi. Check your plan if you roam.

Will my old messages change?

No. Existing SMS conversations stay as they are; new messages use RCS when both sides support it.

Can I still use plain SMS?

Yes. RCS falls back to SMS when needed, and you can send an SMS from the web whenever your phone is out of reach. Learn what RCS is in RCS explained.

Why a carrier or country can matter

In many countries Google runs RCS itself, so it works with any carrier. In others the carrier controls the service and has to enable it for its network. If the option is missing from the settings, update the app, check that your SIM is active in the phone and wait a day; roll-outs can take time. A phone set up for a different region or running a heavily modified Android version may also lack the option.

Using RCS on two SIMs

On a dual-SIM phone, RCS is tied to one number at a time. Choose the SIM you want in the Google Messages settings under RCS chats, and verify the number again if you change it.

Group chats

RCS group chats work like modern chat apps: everyone can see who has seen the message, you can name the group and leave it. If one person in the group does not have RCS, the whole group conversation falls back to MMS and loses these features, so ask everyone to enable RCS.