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Troubleshooting Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging

Learn how to fix common problems with RCS messaging, including activation and message delivery issues.

Rich Communication Services (RCS), appearing as "Chat features" in your messaging app, offers enhanced messaging capabilities beyond traditional SMS/MMS, including read receipts, typing indicators, high-resolution media sharing, group chats and messaging over Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Having trouble sending or receiving RCS messages or can’t turn the feature on? Below, we’ve provided steps on how to troubleshoot these common issues. 

If you can't send or receive messages, try these steps:

Check device and software compatibility.
Both you and the person you're messaging need RCS-compatible phones and the latest software updates for your devices and messaging apps.
Android
: RCS is generally supported by Android 5.1 (Lollipop) or newer, with the latest version of Google Messages or Samsung Messages (on Samsung devices running Android 9.0 Pie or newer).
Apple
: iPhone devices require iOS 18 or later and a carrier that supports RCS messaging. Your messaging app also needs to be up to date.
Verify RCS is turned on.
RCS or chat features must be turned on in your messaging app's settings. Here’s how to do this:
Android (Google Messages)
: Open the
Messages
app → Tap your profile icon (top right) →
Messages
settings →
RCS chats
(or
Chat features
) → Confirm it's turned on (status should indicate "Connected").
Apple (iPhone with iOS 18+)
: Open the
Settings
app → Tap
Messages
→ Tap
RCS Messaging
→ Confirm it is turned on (path may vary slightly based on iOS updates).
Note any error messages.
If you see an error message (e.g. "Message expired," "Service not available," "Waiting for connection," etc.), make a note of it. This can help identify the issue.
Check recipient's number.
Ensure you're using the correct phone number for the recipient, including the area code.
Test with other contacts.
Can you send and/or receive RCS messages to and from other RCS-enabled contacts? This helps determine if the issue is with a specific contact or a general service problem.
When you compose a message to another RCS user, does the input field say "RCS message" (or "Chat message") or "Text message (SMS/MMS)"? If it says "Text message," RCS is not active for that chat.
Test basic SMS/MMS.
Turn off Wi-Fi temporarily and try sending a regular SMS (text-only) and an MMS (picture message) using your mobile data. This confirms if basic messaging services are working.
For MMS, check that the following setting is enabled:
Android
: Go to
Messages
> Menu button (3 dots) >
Settings
> Ensure
Auto-download MMS
is turned on.
Apple
: Go to
Settings
>
Messages
> Ensure
MMS messaging
is turned on.
Check mobile data connection.
RCS messaging requires an active mobile data connection or Wi-Fi connection.
Ensure your mobile data is turned on and you have a stable connection (e.g. you see LTE, 5G or 4G next to your signal bars).
Try browsing a webpage or using another internet-dependent app to confirm data connectivity.
Toggle RCS messaging off and on.
Android (Google Messages)
: Open the
Messages
app → Tap your profile icon →
Messages
settings →
RCS chats
→ Toggle it to off, wait a few moments and then toggle it back on.
Apple (iPhone with iOS 18+)
: Open the
Settings
app →
Messages
→
RCS Messaging
→ Toggle it to off, wait a few moments and then toggle it back on.
Restart your phone.
A simple power cycle can often resolve temporary glitches. Turn your phone off, wait a minute and then turn it back on. Test RCS messaging again.

If you're having trouble activating RCS or chat features, follow these steps:

Both you and the person you're messaging need RCS-compatible phones and the latest software updates for your devices and messaging apps.
Android
: RCS is generally supported by Android 5.1 (Lollipop) or newer, with the latest version of Google Messages or Samsung Messages (on Samsung devices running Android 9.0 Pie or newer).
Apple
: iPhones require iOS 18 or later and a carrier that supports RCS messaging. Your messaging app also needs to be up to date.
Attempt to turn on RCS.
Android (Google Messages)
: Open the
Messages
app → Tap your profile icon (top right) →
Messages
settings →
RCS chats
(or
Chat features
) → Ensure it's toggled on.
Apple (iPhone with iOS 18+)
: Open the
Settings
app → Tap
Messages
→ Tap
RCS Messaging
→ Attempt to toggle on.
Note any error messages.
The type of error message that appears during activation (e.g. "Trying to verify," "Registration failed," "Couldn't connect," etc.) can help determine the steps needed to fix the problem.
If it says
Waiting for activation
(or something similar) for an extended period (especially after a number change or new SIM), try turning RCS off for more than 24 hours and then turn it back on.
For Android users who recently switched numbers or devices, you might need to deregister your old number from RCS. Visit
messages.google.com/disable-chat
for Google's deactivation portal if you no longer have the old device.
Check basic SMS/MMS functionality.
Ensure you can send and receive standard SMS and MMS messages while on your cellular network. This confirms basic network connectivity for messaging.
Verify your mobile data connection.
You need an active mobile data connection for initial setup and activation. Ensure mobile data is enabled and working by browsing a website.
After activation, you can use either mobile data or Wi-Fi for RCS messaging.
Restart your phone.
Turn your phone off completely, wait a few moments and then power it back on. Try enabling RCS again.
Clear cache/data (advanced step for Android users only).
If issues persist, you can try clearing the cache and data for the
Carrier Services
app (if installed) and your
Messages
app.
Note
: Clearing app data for
Messages
will reset your app settings but usually preserves your message history, which is stored separately. As a precaution, you may want to consider backing up important messages before proceeding.
How to clear cache or data (exact steps may vary): Go to
Settings
>
Apps
> search for
Carrier Services
(may not be available on some devices) >
Storage
>
Clear cache
. Next, repeat for your
Messages
app, where you might see options for
Clear cache
and
Clear storage/data
.
After clearing, restart your phone and try enabling RCS again.

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