Seeing RCS in your texting app means your phone is using a richer texting standard than old SMS or MMS. It brings phone-number texting closer to a modern chat app, with better media, read receipts, typing indicators, delivery receipts, and improved group chats.
Here is what RCS means, where the setting lives on Android and iPhone, and how to use it without following outdated Samsung Messages or QR-code setup steps.
1. Learn What RCS Means in Texting
RCS stands for Rich Communication Services. It is an upgraded carrier and messaging-app texting standard that works over Wi-Fi or mobile data.
In supported conversations, RCS adds:
- High-resolution media for better photo and video sharing than older MMS texting.
- Typing indicators so you see when the other person is typing.
- Read receipts so supported conversations show when a message has been read.
- Delivery receipts so you know when a message has arrived.
- Improved group chats with more modern chat behavior.
RCS features depend on the carrier, region, messaging app, device, and recipient support.
2. Check Where RCS Appears on Your Phone
On Android, the setting appears in Google Messages as RCS chats. On iPhone, Apple puts it in Messages settings as RCS Messaging.
RCS does not give you a new phone number or a separate inbox. You keep using your normal texting app, and the app uses RCS for supported phone-number conversations.
On iPhone, SMS, MMS, and RCS messages appear in green bubbles. Blue bubbles remain iMessage conversations.
3. Set Up RCS on Android With Google Messages
- 1.Open the Google Play Store page for Google Messages.
- 2.Tap Install or Update.
- 3.Open Google Messages.
- 4.Set it as the default SMS app from Settings > Apps > Google Messages > SMS > Google Messages.
- 5.In Google Messages, tap your profile picture or initial.
- 6.Go to Messages settings > RCS chats.
- 7.Turn RCS chats on.
Android settings labels vary by manufacturer and version.
On Samsung Galaxy phones in the US, use Google Messages. Open or download Google Messages. At To use Messages, make it your default SMS app, tap Set default SMS app, select Google Messages, then tap Set as default.
4. Turn On RCS Messaging on iPhone
On iPhone, open Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging, then turn RCS Messaging on.
You need iOS 18 or later and a cellular plan from a carrier that supports RCS messaging on iPhone. When the setting is missing, check Apple’s wireless carrier support page for your country or region and look for RCS messaging or End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging (beta) next to your carrier. The encrypted beta additionally needs iOS 26.5 and a supported carrier, and you control it under Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging > End-to-End Encryption (Beta).
Where supported, control business messages from Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging > RCS Business Messages.
5. Send an RCS Text the Normal Way
You do not pick RCS for each individual text. Your messaging app uses RCS when the conversation supports it.
- 1.Open Google Messages on Android or Messages on iPhone.
- 2.Tap the Compose button or open an existing conversation.
- 3.Enter the contact, phone number, or Apple Account where supported.
- 4.Type your message in the text field.
- 5.Tap the Send button.
On iPhone, reply from the Lock Screen by touching and holding the message notification, or by swiping left and tapping View depending on the device. Type the reply, then tap Send.
6. Adjust Read Receipts Typing Indicators and Resending
Google Messages keeps the main RCS controls together:
- Send read receipts: open Google Messages > profile picture or icon > Messages settings > RCS chats > Send read receipts.
- Show typing indicators: open Google Messages > profile picture or icon > Messages settings > RCS chats > Show typing indicators.
- Resend messages: open Google Messages > profile picture or initial > Messages settings > RCS chats > Resend messages, then choose how failed RCS messages are resent.
Use care with SMS with a link. Google says it exposes media through a public link not controlled by Google.
Current Google Messages screens use RCS chats. If you can’t find RCS chats, tap Chat features instead — the label older tutorials use.
7. Text From a Computer Tablet or Apple Device
Android users use Google Messages for web in a browser. On your phone, open Google Messages > account menu > Device Pairing, select your Google Account when prompted, then open Google Messages for web in Chrome, Safari, or another browser and sign in with the same Google Account. On your phone, tap the matching emoji.
To unpair a computer, open Google Messages for web > Menu > Unpair. From the phone, open Google Messages > account menu > Device Pairing, then, under Unpair one computer, tap Delete next to that computer and tap Unpair, or tap Unpair all computers.
Do not use old US tutorials that tell you to pair Messages for web with a QR code. Google says QR-code pairing for web is no longer available in the US.
On iPhone, use Messages in iCloud to sync SMS, MMS, RCS, and iMessage across your Apple devices, and use Text Message Forwarding to send and receive SMS, MMS, and RCS on your other Apple devices. Use Settings > your name > iCloud > Messages > Use on this iPhone, then confirm devices under Settings > Apps > Messages > Text Message Forwarding.
8. Fix Missing RCS or Stuck Messages
Start where the setting belongs. On Android, install or update Google Messages, make it the default SMS app, then turn on RCS chats. On iPhone, use iOS 18 or later and check Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging.
- Android RCS setting missing: open Google Messages and confirm it is the default messaging app.
- iPhone RCS setting missing: check whether your carrier lists RCS support for iPhone.
- Samsung Messages instructions: ignore old US setup paths that rely on Samsung Messages. Samsung says Samsung Messages is being discontinued in July 2026 for affected devices and directs those users to Google Messages. Check the Samsung Messages app for the exact date; devices on Android 11 or lower are not affected.
- Switching phones or losing a device: go to https://messages.google.com/disable-chat, enter your phone number, tap Send code, enter the 6-digit verification code, then tap Deactivate.
Google says deactivation removes you from RCS group chats when RCS is not turned back on within 30 days.
On a work or school-managed phone, the organization can disable RCS. Consumer settings do not override managed Android Enterprise or supervised Apple device restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RCS the same as iMessage?
No. RCS is carrier and app-based texting for phone-number messages. iMessage is Apple’s messaging service, and iMessage conversations appear in blue bubbles.
Can I use RCS on an Android tablet?
Yes. Install or open Google Messages on the tablet and follow the same setup flow as Google Messages for web. Some cellular tablets with a SIM can send messages without a phone connection when supported.
Can Siri send an RCS message on iPhone?
Siri can send, read, and reply to messages through Messages. The Messages app chooses iMessage, RCS, SMS, or MMS based on the conversation and settings; Apple does not provide a Siri command that forces RCS.
How do I turn RCS off?
On Android, open Google Messages > Messages settings > RCS chats and turn RCS chats off. On iPhone, open Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging and turn RCS Messaging off.
