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 or you can’t turn on RCS chats, learn how to troubleshoot.

Turn RCS chats on or off

Important: It’s not advised to turn RCS chats on and off. If you do, you’ll be removed from group chats. Apply the steps below if you:

  • Swap to a device without RCS and don’t receive messages on your new phone.
  • Switch to another message app and don’t receive your messages.
  • Lose or break your phone but still have your phone number.

If you have access to your device:

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

Tip: If you can’t use your device, use the Google Messages deactivation web portal to turn off RCS chats temporarily.

Understand RCS chat status

To find your status, go to Settings and then RCS chats.

The possible statuses are:

  • Connected: You can useRCS chats with other people who have them turned on.
  • Connecting: Your phone number is under verification. Please wait.
  • Trouble connecting. Awaiting retry: There’s an issue with your phone number verification. Please wait.
    • If this takes more than 30 minutes, tap Details and then Submit feedback.
  • Not supported: You can’t use RCS chats. Check your internet connection.

If the message "RCS chats are disabled by your carrier" shows, contact your carrier.

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 and then Messages settings.
  3. Tap RCS chats.
    • 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 and then Messages settings.
  3. Tap RCS chats.
    • 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 Initial and then Messages settings.
  3. Tap RCS chats.
    • 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 and 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 and then Advanced and then 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.

Once done, enable RCS:

  1. On your device, open Google Messages .
  2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial and then Messages settings and then RCS chats
  3. Turn on RCS.
  4. Tap Retry.
  5. In the confirmation dialog, tap Continue.

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
  • Send by SMS Send by SMS
  • Send by MMS Send by MMS

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