Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a messaging protocol that enhances the messaging experience, especially when communicating between iPhone and Android devices. With the release of iOS 18 in 2024, Apple introduced this protocol to all iPhones, marking a significant step towards unified messaging.
After countless ads and several years of Google’s pleading, RCS is an integral part of Apple’s Messages app. It wasn’t always that way, as I jumped on the experience almost immediately, activating it as part of the second iOS 18 beta before the official rollout in late 2024.
Benefits of RCS Messaging
With RCS messaging, you gain access to several features that were previously limited to iMessage or other third-party messaging apps:
- Typing Indicators: See when the person on the other end is typing.
- "Delivered" Status: Know when your message has been successfully delivered.
- High-Quality Media: Send and receive high-resolution videos and pictures when texting between devices.
Then, with iOS 18.1, Apple brought RCS Business Messaging to iPhones, which means you'll be able to chat with some businesses in Messages rather than a buggy web page.
Two thumbs up. And, since the full RCS on Messages rollout, the experience has only gotten better.
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How to Check Carrier Support for RCS
Most carriers support RCS, but not all. Here’s how to check if your carrier supports RCS messaging on your iPhone:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap General.
- Tap About.
- Tap Carrier.
When you tap Carrier, it will change to IMS Status and show messaging support details to the right. If your carrier supports RCS, you'll see Voice, SMS & RCS. If your carrier doesn't support RCS, you'll see Voice & SMS.
If your carrier doesn't support RCS Messaging, have no fear, as Apple is reportedly expanding support to more carriers in the future.
US Carriers Supporting RCS on iOS 26.1
If your iPhone is running iOS 26.1, here are all the US carriers that support RCS on your device:
- AT&T
- Boost Mobile
- C Spire
- Consumer Cellular
- Cricket
- Family Mobile
- FirstNet
- H20 Wireless
- Metro by T-Mobile
- PureTalk
- RedPocket Mobile
- Spectrum Mobile
- T-Mobile
- Total Wireless
- TracFone / Straight Talk
- Ultra Mobile
- US Cellular
- Verizon
- Visible
- Xfinity Mobile
Enabling or Disabling RCS on Your iPhone
If your carrier supports RCS, ensure it’s enabled on your iPhone by following these steps:
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- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps near the bottom of the menu.
- Tap Messages.
- Tap RCS Messaging under Text Messaging.
- Tap the toggle next to RCS Messaging.
Now messaging Android devices will feel more like messaging another iPhone -- but you'll still see those green bubbles. And if you want to disable RCS, follow the above steps again.
All you have to do is make sure that your iPhone is updated to iOS 18 (or iOS 26 now that it’s out) - admittedly easier said than done if you’re low on storage - and Messages will take care of the rest.
Troubleshooting RCS Issues
If you've updated your iPhone, your carrier supports RCS, and you've enabled it, but RCS still isn't working, try a forced restart on your iPhone. Here’s how to perform a forced restart:
- Press and release the volume up button on your iPhone.
- Press and release the volume down button on your iPhone.
- Press and hold your iPhone's side button until your iPhone restarts and you see the Apple logo on your screen. You have to ignore the screen that asks you to slide to power off your device, as well.
If this doesn't work, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider for a device inspection.
There may be a slight delay after you first turn on RCS. If the RCS Messaging setting does not appear, RCS messaging might not be available.
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How To FIX RCS Messages Not Working On iPhone!
Is RCS Messaging Secure?
While RCS offers many improvements, it's essential to note that RCS on iPhone doesn't provide end-to-end encryption between iPhones and Android devices yet. The GSM Association, which develops the RCS standard, said in 2024 that it's working to enable end-to-end encryption between these devices.
For enhanced security, consider using end-to-end encrypted messaging apps like Signal.
The GSMA, a nonprofit that develops the Rich Communication Services standard, announced in March that it's adding interoperable encryption to RCS messaging, allowing for end-to-end encryption between different providers. Apple and Google collaborated on the protocol and according to The Verge, both companies will implement it.
"We will add support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, and WatchOS in future software updates," an Apple spokesperson told The Verge.
RCS text messages can be sent to non-Apple devices as well as another iPhone or other Apple devices with Text Message Forwarding turned on.
RCS Group Chat on iPhones
RCS is everywhere in 2025, and group messaging just got a major upgrade. For years, the gap between Android and iOS messaging created frustrating limitations for users, especially in group chats. As of iOS 18, RCS is officially supported on iPhones, enabling richer messaging between Android and iOS devices.
RCS group chat represents the next generation of native messaging, enabling richer, more dynamic conversations than traditional SMS or MMS ever could. This eliminates the fragmentation and limitations typical of MMS group chats.
To take advantage of RCS group messaging, all participants must have RCS enabled on a supported messaging app and carrier network. If even one participant in the group doesn’t meet these conditions, the conversation may fall back to SMS or MMS, resulting in broken threads, missing features, or lower message quality.
RCS Group Chat Compatibility
- Google Messages: The default messaging app on Pixel and Android One devices. It offers the most complete and consistent RCS group chat experience, including support for typing indicators, read receipts, and media sharing.
- Samsung Messages: Available on Samsung devices, but RCS support varies. In some regions, users may need to manually enable chat features or switch to Google Messages for full functionality.
- iPhones (iOS 18 and up): As of iOS 18, Apple has RCS support.
Important note for businesses: RCS group chat is not available for brands.
First Impressions and Testing RCS
Before using my Android-using dad as an RCS guinea pig, I had to do a few things. Those two steps took about three times as long as the rest of the process (including running my dad through the different ways I needed him to react to messages).
Then, it was time to jump into an RCS-powered future, and by that, I mean flipping a toggle in the Settings app. Seriously, that’s all there was to it for beta testers on the most recent build.
From there, it was time to send my first RCS text message on an iPhone, so I figured I’d start with an easy one - a dig about Apple finally getting the message.
I also noticed I didn’t have to test read receipts through RCS - they’re turned on by default. There also doesn’t seem to be a way to turn them off since there’s only one toggle for all the RCS settings, so you’re either in or out. Personally, I’m still hoping Apple adds the ability to toggle read receipts eventually, as I still don’t really like them.
Enhanced Media Sharing
The other main draw of bringing RCS to Messages is the ability to send full-resolution videos and images from Android to iOS, just like you can with iMessage between iPhones. After all, there’s nothing worse than having a friend take a great photo of you only for them to send it to you in a low resolution.
Images and videos finally go from Android to iOS in the resolution they were intended.
RCS on iPhones also allows you to send stickers from your existing set and GIFs from Apple’s #images library, so I sent my dad one of each. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t seem to have ironed out reactions to them just yet, as I got the dreaded “Thumbs up to a GIF” and “Thumbs up to a photo” in response.
The Green Bubble Dilemma
So, there you go - Apple has completely changed the messaging game by bringing RCS to Messages. We can finally have peace and harmony between Android and iOS, especially as the two mobile platforms inch closer together and share more features than ever before.
Oh, right, green bubbles still exist, so Android users will probably still face stigma for choosing a Pixel or a Galaxy device over an iPhone. That’s alright, though. Now, when you capture a great photo of your friends using a Pixel 8 Pro or capture a video at 50x zoom on a Galaxy S24 Ultra, you can send it to your friends in its original quality!