If you want to learn how to enable, disable, and use RCS Chat in Google Messages, you’ve come to the right place. Texting has been a part of our daily routines for decades with regular cell phones, but the SMS we still use hasn’t stood the test of time. Because SMS is inherently limited, it has few security measures and is therefore no longer adequate in today’s technology age.

What is RCS Chat?

The new RCS messaging standard, which was developed by Google in collaboration with the GSMA to unify around the Universal Profile, has now arrived to replace SMS/MMS everywhere. RCS also contains a number of modern security tools, like end-to-end encryption that may be beneficial to all of us.

Google has incorporated all of the RCS chat features into its own Messages app. Google Messages is installed almost on all Android phones, so you could be using it right now for both SMS/MMS. You may use this guide’s easy procedures to turn on RCS chats on your phone, allowing you to improve your smartphone messaging experience considerably.

Info: This guide is about the Google Messages app, which is the default messaging software on Pixel phones and many other devices distributed by Google as well as other brands such as OnePlus and Motorola. If your phone does not come preinstalled with Google Messages, you can easily download it from this link.

If your area supports RCS, Google Messages will usually prompt you a message to enable the feature. If the message below appears, you’re ready to go:

How to enable, disable, and use RCS Chat in Google Messages?
The prompt you’ll see if you have RCS chat enabled in your region.

If you’re sending RCS Chat messages, the input box will say “Chat message,” and they’ll have read receipts. If you’re talking with someone who has the Messages app on an Android device and Google thinks both ends support it, your messages will be sent end-to-end encrypted, with a little “lock” symbol displayed.

How to enable, disable, and use RCS Chat in Google Messages?
For example, you can see the “lock” symbol displayed at the bottom.

Follow these steps below to manually enable RCS Chat or to disable it, if it is already enabled.

How to enable RCS Chat in Google Messages?

If your phone does not enable RCS Chat by default, you may follow these steps to turn it on:

  • Open the Google Messages application
  • Open the three-dot menu and enter Settings.
  • Look for the Chat features.
  • Choose the Enable chat features button.
  • Now the tool will establish your device automatically as long as you have service from your mobile carrier.
How to enable, disable, and use RCS Chat in Google Messages?
How to enable, disable, and use RCS Chat in Google Messages?
The features to show that you’ve read a message and when you’re typing are both turned on by default. If you want for any reason, you may always turn them off. You can also modify the auto-download file settings if you have a limited data connection. You can now send real-time messages and share huge media files with others thanks to RCS availability. It’s comparable to using WhatsApp, except RCS replaces SMS/MMS instead of offering similar features.
Info: Some VPNs may cause a problem with the chat features taking longer than usual to activate. In most situations, it will work just fine after a few minutes. When connecting to another VPN server after activation, things can get a little wonky, so keep that in mind while switching servers. However, we’ve also seen reports of certain VPNs preventing activation completely. So be careful, just in case.

How to disable RCS Chat in Google Messages?

If you want to turn off RCS chat features in the Messages app, it’s not really too hard. If you’re having connection problems and they aren’t resolving, turning the option off and then back on might be a good idea. When it comes to disabling the RCS chat capabilities on your device, follow these steps:

  • Open the Google Messages application
  • Open the three-dot menu and enter Settings.
  • Enter “Chat features.”
  • Now you need to tap on the “Enable chat features” button in order to disable RCS chats.
  • Next, tap on “Turn off” to confirm your choice.
How to enable, disable, and use RCS Chat in Google Messages?
How to enable, disable, and use RCS Chat in Google Messages?

When you disable chat features, you’ll be removed from your already existing RCS chat groups. All of your communications from this point forward will be reverted to SMS/MMS until you re-enable RCS chats. It’s also a good idea to turn off RCS before upgrading your phone so that you don’t encounter any compatibility problems as a result of the old device. If you still have access to your old phone, it’s simple to remove these settings; however, if you no longer have access to it, Google has a form where you can unregister your phone number.

Remember: Don’t switch off and on the chat features repeatedly in a short time period. You might be locked out from utilizing them for a while as a result of this action.

Although SMS/MMS is still around, for the time being, RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the next-generation messaging technology that we should all be using right now; however, we’ll have to replace SMS/MMS gradually. Google’s ambitions are huge, but it’s entirely feasible to connect the world through a single global communication standard.

This way you’ve learned how to enable, disable, and use RCS Chat in Google Messages by following a series of simple steps! Why don’t you try it out now?