Here's How To Enable RCS On Any Android Phone Right Now

text messaging
Android smartphone users who want to enjoy RCS text messaging or Rich Communicator Services -- read receipts, high resolution imagery, the ability to see when someone is typing -- on any Android device with any carrier can enable it now. The trick to enable RCS is reliant on Google's implementation. Google had announced in the past that it would handle RCS for carriers, but the feature only officially rolled out to the U.K. and France.

Thankfully, there are numerous reports that RCS works on Android devices in the U.S. and that it works on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint devices. Android users in other parts of the world can also use this trick according to a report from 9to5Google. To enable RCS, users must have an app that can see Android activities, the latest beta version 5.2 of the Messages app, and WiFi must be turned off. With those requirements met, the steps are as follows:

google rcs steps


After following those steps, the user should see a prompt to turn on RCS in the official client. All four major carriers announced a cross-carrier messaging initiative that is based on RCS that will work across carriers around the world. The carriers expect to offer more details closer to the launch of the new CCMI or Cross-Carrier Messaging Initiative in 2020. It would be no surprise if Google kills off the "unofficial" ability to activate RCS.