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Enable RCS on Your Device

Charles Jorgensen
Updated

Before your subscribers can receive RCS messages, they need RCS enabled on their phone. This guide covers how to turn on RCS for both Android and iPhone, how to verify it's working, and what to do when something goes wrong.

Android (Google Messages)

Requirements

  • Google Messages set as the default messaging app
  • Android 14 or later
  • An active data connection (cellular data or Wi-Fi)
  • A carrier that supports RCS

How to enable

  1. Open Google Messages.
  2. Tap your profile icon (top right).
  3. Tap Messages settings.
  4. Tap RCS chats.
  5. Toggle RCS chats on.

The phone verifies your number with the carrier. This can take a few minutes. The status changes from "Setting up" to "Connected" when it's ready.

How to verify it's working

  • The compose box shows "RCS message" instead of "Text message."
  • A small lock icon on the send button means the conversation is end-to-end encrypted.
  • Long-press a sent message and check Details to confirm the protocol.

iPhone (iOS)

Requirements

  • iOS 18 or later
  • iPhone XS or newer
  • A carrier that supports RCS on iPhone (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile confirmed; some MVNOs may not support it yet)
  • An active cellular data plan

How to enable

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Apps > Messages.
  3. Scroll to the Text Messaging section.
  4. Toggle RCS Messaging on.

How to verify it's working

  • In a conversation with an RCS-enabled Android contact, you'll see "Text Message - RCS" instead of "Text Message."
  • Typing indicators and read receipts appear in RCS conversations.
  • You can check carrier support at Settings > General > About > Carrier. If it reads "Voice, SMS & RCS," your carrier supports RCS. If it reads "Voice & SMS," it doesn't.

How to tell if a conversation is using RCS

Platform RCS active SMS/MMS active
Android Compose box says "RCS message" Compose box says "Text message"
iPhone Label says "Text Message - RCS" Label says "Text Message"
Both Typing indicators and read receipts appear No typing indicators or read receipts

Both people in a conversation need RCS enabled for it to work. If either person doesn't have it, the conversation falls back to SMS/MMS.

Troubleshooting: Android

RCS stuck on "Setting up"

  1. Toggle RCS chats off in Messages settings.
  2. Wait a full 5 minutes (the server needs time to deregister your number).
  3. Restart the phone.
  4. Toggle RCS chats back on.

"Chat features unavailable for this device"

  • Confirm Google Messages is set as your default messaging app.
  • Check that you have a data connection (cellular or Wi-Fi).
  • Verify your carrier supports RCS. Contact your carrier if unsure.

Clear cache and storage (nuclear option)

  1. Turn on Airplane mode.
  2. Go to Settings > Apps.
  3. Find Carrier Services, tap Storage, then Clear storage.
  4. Find Google Messages, tap Force stop, then Clear storage.
  5. Turn off Airplane mode.
  6. Reopen Google Messages, set it as default if prompted, and re-enable RCS.

This clears your local message database cache. Your messages are still on the carrier's servers, but you may lose some local drafts.

Force deregister and re-register

If nothing else works:

  1. In a browser, go to messages.google.com/disable-chat.
  2. Enter your phone number.
  3. Verify with the SMS code sent to your device.
  4. Once deregistered, re-enable RCS in Google Messages settings.

Troubleshooting: iPhone

RCS Messaging toggle doesn't appear

This is a carrier provisioning issue, not a device bug. Check the following:

  • Confirm you're running iOS 18 or later (Settings > General > Software Update).
  • Check that your carrier supports RCS on iPhone (Settings > General > About > Carrier).
  • If your carrier is listed but the toggle still doesn't appear, contact your carrier to confirm they've enabled RCS for your specific number, plan, and SIM/eSIM.

Messages still going as SMS

  • Make sure the recipient also has RCS enabled. Both sides need it.
  • Toggle RCS Messaging off and back on in Settings > Apps > Messages.
  • Restart the Messages app (close it from the app switcher, then reopen).
  • Confirm you have an active data connection. RCS doesn't work on Wi-Fi alone on some carriers; some may require cellular data.

Carrier not supported yet

If your carrier hasn't rolled out RCS for iPhone, the toggle won't appear and there's no workaround on the device side. Contact your carrier to ask about their RCS timeline.

General tips

  • Both sides need RCS. If you enable RCS but your contact hasn't, messages between you fall back to SMS/MMS.
  • Data connection required. RCS uses your data plan or Wi-Fi. Without connectivity, messages send as SMS.
  • Dual-SIM setups. If you use two SIMs (physical + eSIM or two eSIMs), confirm the correct line is set as your default for messaging. Dual-SIM configurations can cause registration issues on Android.
  • Carrier timing. Major US carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) fully support RCS. Smaller MVNOs and prepaid carriers may lag behind. If RCS isn't available on your carrier yet, SMS/MMS continues to work normally.
  • Encryption. End-to-end encryption for cross-platform RCS (iPhone to Android) began rolling out in mid-2026 and depends on carrier support. A lock icon in the conversation confirms encryption is active.

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