RCS on iPhone & Android in 2025: The Real Cross-Platform Texting Guide
TL;DR (for the impatient)
- Yes, you should enable RCS on both iPhone (iOS 18+) and Android if your carrier supports it. Better media, delivery/typing indicators, and more reliable group chats are immediate wins. Android
- iPhone ↔ Android RCS is not end-to-end encrypted as of iOS 18; Android ↔ Android in Google Messages can be E2EE. If privacy is critical, keep sensitive threads in Signal/WhatsApp/iMessage.
- Expect a short activation window the first time you toggle RCS on; if it stalls, the troubleshooting steps below usually fix it. Google Help
Why this matters now
If your group chats still break every time someone sends a video or reacts with a heart, you're likely bouncing between old-school SMS/MMS, iMessage, and a patchwork of apps. That got a lot simpler in 2025: Apple added RCS (Rich Communication Services) support to iPhone, and Android has had it for years. In theory, that means better media, read receipts, typing indicators, and more—even in green-bubble chats. In practice, there are caveats (carriers, settings, encryption), and the experience still varies.
I switched my family group over to RCS this spring. My parents are on iPhone; my siblings and I are on a mix of Pixels and Samsungs. The change wasn't "magic," but it did solve three daily annoyances: gray, pixelated videos; disappearing reactions; and those awkward "who saw this?" moments. Below I'll show how to turn RCS on (both iPhone and Android), where it shines, and where it still trips up in 2025.
RCS in one minute: what it is (and isn't)
RCS modernizes carrier texting. Think of it as "SMS 2.0" that adds:
- High-quality photos/videos without compressing them into a blur
- Typing indicators, read receipts, better group management
- Larger file sizes, location sharing, Wi-Fi messaging, and more
Unlike iMessage or WhatsApp, RCS is a carrier standard (defined by the GSMA). Apple added RCS to the built-in Messages app in iOS 18, and Android's default Google Messages app has supported it for years. When both sides have RCS, you get richer chat features; if not, it falls back to SMS/MMS. GSMA
Not the same as iMessage. iMessage is Apple-only and end-to-end encrypted. RCS on iPhone uses Apple's Messages app but remains a different channel with different security properties (details below).
Where RCS works in 2025
On iPhone (iOS 18 and later)
- Requirements: iPhone running iOS 18+, a carrier that supports RCS, and RCS toggled on in Settings.
- How to enable: Settings → Apps → Messages → RCS Messaging (toggle on). Messages to Android users will show as green bubbles but with RCS features when available. Apple notes it may take time to activate after you turn it on.
- Reality check: If your carrier hasn't enabled RCS for iPhone lines in your region, the toggle may not appear or won't activate. In that case, you'll fall back to SMS/MMS in mixed chats.
On Android phones
- Requirements: Google Messages set as the default SMS app, data connection, and a carrier that supports RCS.
- How to enable: Google Messages → profile icon → Messages settings → RCS chats → Turn on. If "RCS chats" isn't there, look for "Chat features." Google Help
- Tip: If you upgraded phones or switched numbers and messages won't deliver, deregister RCS on your old phone or use Google's "Disable Chat" page. messages.google.com
What you actually gain (and where it still lags)
The good stuff you'll notice immediately
- Media that doesn't look like it was filmed on a toaster. Family videos are finally watchable in green-bubble chats.
- Delivery certainty. Read receipts and "typing..." indicators help you avoid double-texts and "did you see this?" follow-ups.
- Group chat that behaves. Adding/removing people is less chaotic; reactions and long messages are far more consistent.
The gotchas in 2025
- Security parity isn't here yet. Android-to-Android RCS in Google Messages supports end-to-end encryption; iPhone ↔ Android RCS does not in iOS 18. For sensitive conversations, keep an E2EE app (Signal/WhatsApp) or iMessage for Apple-only groups.
- Carrier dependencies. Because RCS is carrier-anchored, availability and reliability can vary by region and plan. If a single person in a group lacks RCS, your thread may fall back to SMS/MMS. GSMA
- Activation hiccups. First-time activation can take minutes; if it's stuck, the troubleshooting checklist below works more often than not. Google Help
My experience: The biggest upgrade wasn't "speed"—it was predictability. Reactions arrive. Videos remain crisp. And our mixed iPhone/Android family chat finally behaves like one coherent group instead of two parallel universes.
How to turn on RCS (step-by-step)
iPhone (iOS 18+)
- Update to the latest iOS 18 release.
- Go to Settings → Apps → Messages.
- Toggle RCS Messaging on.
- Wait for activation (can take a bit).
- Start a new chat with an Android contact and send a photo/test message.
If you don't see the toggle, contact your carrier to confirm RCS support on iPhone in your plan/region. Apple's support doc calls that out explicitly.
Android (Google Messages)
- Set Google Messages as default: open Messages → if prompted, confirm it as your default SMS app.
- Tap your profile icon → Messages settings → RCS chats.
- Toggle Turn on RCS chats.
- If "Connecting..." spins for a while, try Retry or Verify your number. Google Help
Quick fixes when RCS won't activate
- Check data & SMS reachability (RCS setup uses both).
- Update Google Messages and Play Services (Android). Google Help
- Deregister old phone if you recently switched devices or numbers (Android). messages.google.com
- Carrier support: confirm your line actually supports RCS on iPhone/Android in your country.
My stubborn case was a dual-SIM Pixel with the wrong number set in Messages → Settings → Advanced → Phone number. Fixing that made activation work in under a minute. Google Help
Privacy & security in 2025: what's actually protected
- Android ↔ Android (Google Messages): RCS chats can be end-to-end encrypted in one-to-one and supported group chats.
- iPhone ↔ iPhone (iMessage): end-to-end encrypted by design.
- iPhone ↔ Android (RCS): not E2EE on iOS 18. You still gain richer features vs SMS/MMS, but not the same security model as iMessage/Signal.
If privacy is central for a given thread (work leaks, personal data, political/legal risks), use an E2EE app across platforms. Treat RCS on mixed iPhone/Android chats as a quality-of-life upgrade, not a security upgrade, in 2025.
Real-world scenarios (and what to expect)
Family groups with mixed phones
- Big win for vacation planning and kid videos.
- Reactions and long replies stop fragmenting.
- If one uncle's phone is ancient or his carrier blocks RCS, the thread will occasionally fall back to SMS—expect a "why did that video get tiny?" moment now and then.
Work coordination in small teams
- For cross-platform teams that refuse to install another app, RCS is "good enough"—read receipts, better media, and fewer MMS failures.
- For anything sensitive, spin up Signal or Slack and keep it there.
Travel & weak-signal areas
- RCS can deliver over Wi-Fi and handle media better than MMS in low signal.
- If Wi-Fi calling is off or your hotel Wi-Fi is captive-portal locked, bring a fallback (email or WhatsApp).
Dual-SIM life
- RCS registration is tied to the phone number you've verified in the app. If you move SIMs around, check which line is registered, or deregister/re-activate as needed. messages.google.com
RCS vs iMessage vs WhatsApp/Signal (2025)
RCS
- Pros: Built into default texting on both platforms now; better media than MMS; typing/read receipts; improved groups; works over Wi-Fi.
- Cons: Mixed iPhone/Android chats not E2EE; carrier dependencies.
iMessage (Apple-only)
- Pros: Deep OS integration; effects; seamless backups; E2EE; great reliability in Apple-only circles.
- Cons: No Android app; still creates "blue vs green" friction.
WhatsApp/Signal/Telegram
- Pros: True cross-platform; E2EE (WhatsApp/Signal); rich features.
- Cons: Requires installing yet another app; family members may resist switching.
The 10-minute "do this now" checklist
On iPhone (iOS 18+)
- Update iOS → Settings → Apps → Messages → RCS Messaging (On).
- Keep Send as SMS enabled as a fallback for emergencies.
- Start a fresh thread with an Android contact to force RCS capability detection.
On Android
- Set Google Messages as default; turn RCS chats on.
- Verify number; confirm status shows Connected. Google Help
- If you recently switched phones, run Disable Chat on the old line. messages.google.com
For group chats
- Create a new group thread after enabling RCS (old MMS threads may not auto-upgrade).
- Test with a short video and a reaction to confirm RCS is active.
Common questions (2025)
Does RCS use data or SMS?
RCS uses your mobile data or Wi-Fi. If RCS isn't available, Messages falls back to SMS/MMS.
Why are my messages still green on iPhone?
Green just means "not iMessage." With RCS enabled and available, you'll still see green bubbles—but with richer features behind the scenes.
Do I need the Google Messages app on iPhone?
No. iPhone uses Apple's Messages app; just enable RCS Messaging in Settings if your carrier supports it.
Can I force RCS if my carrier doesn't support it?
No. RCS availability depends on carrier support in your region. Consider a third-party app (Signal/WhatsApp) for the features you need until your carrier catches up. GSMA
Are business messages part of this?
Apple includes toggles for business features in the Messages settings; carriers/regions vary. Expect RCS to keep expanding into business messaging, but consumer availability is the focus here.
Final verdict
If your chats are mixed iPhone/Android, turn on RCS today. You'll get cleaner media, better delivery status, and fewer group-chat headaches. Just be clear-eyed: RCS on iPhone ↔ Android isn't end-to-end encrypted yet in iOS 18, so keep sensitive topics in E2EE apps. For everyone else, RCS is finally the default carrier texting experience we should have had years ago.
Sources (for further reading)
- Google Support — Can't turn on RCS chats (Android troubleshooting). Google Help
- Google — Disable RCS Chat (deregister when switching phones). messages.google.com
- Android (Get The Message) — What is RCS and how to enable it. Android
- GSMA — RCS & Universal Profile overview (what the standard is). GSMA