How to Turn On and Use RCS on iPhone with iOS 18

RCS (Rich Communication Services) replaces the old SMS/MMS with typing indicators, read receipts, high-resolution photos, and better group chats when texting Android users. With iOS 18, Apple added RCS support, so you can finally enjoy these modern messaging features across iPhone and Android. This guide walks you through enabling RCS on your iPhone and using it effectively.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone running iOS 18 or later (check Settings > General > Software Update).
A carrier that supports RCS on iPhone. Most major US carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) and many international carriers support it. If unsure, contact your carrier or check their website.
An active cellular data or Wi-Fi connection (RCS requires internet).
iMessage must be enabled (Settings > Messages > iMessage) – RCS works alongside it.

Step-by-Step

Update to iOS 18: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If iOS 18 is available, tap “Download and Install.� Wait for the update to finish; your iPhone will restart.
Open Settings: Tap the grey gear icon on your home screen.
Go to Messages: Scroll down and tap “Messages.�
Turn on RCS: Scroll down to the “Text Messaging� section. You’ll see “RCS Messaging� – toggle it on (green). If you don’t see this option, your carrier doesn’t support RCS yet, or your device isn’t updated.
Verify it’s active: After turning it on, go to Settings > General > About. Scroll down to “Carrier� and look for “Voice & Data� or “RCS� status. Some carriers show “RCS� here. If not, send a test message to an Android friend – see step 7.
Send an RCS message: Open the Messages app, start a new conversation, and enter an Android phone number. Type your message and hit send.
Check for RCS indicators: When RCS is active, you’ll see “Text Message • RCS� in the text field before you send. After sending, the message bubble will show “Delivered� or “Read� (if the recipient has read receipts on). You’ll also see typing indicators (three dots) when the other person is typing.
Use RCS features: You can now send high-resolution photos and videos (tap the + icon), see read receipts, and enjoy improved group chats. Long-press a message to react with emojis – these will appear as proper reactions on Android.
Turn off RCS (optional): If you ever want to disable it, go back to Settings > Messages > RCS Messaging and toggle it off. Messages will revert to SMS/MMS.

Common Mistakes

Not updating to iOS 18: RCS is only available on iOS 18 or later. If you’re on an older version, you won’t see the option.
Carrier not supporting RCS: Even with iOS 18, if your carrier hasn’t enabled RCS, the toggle won’t appear. Check with your carrier.
Expecting RCS with iPhone users: RCS only applies to conversations with Android users. iPhone-to-iPhone messages use iMessage (blue bubbles).
Turning off iMessage: RCS works alongside iMessage. If you disable iMessage, you’ll lose blue bubbles and may not get RCS either.
Assuming read receipts are automatic: Read receipts require the recipient to have them enabled in their messaging app. You can control your own by going to Settings > Messages > Send Read Receipts.

Tips

Keep Wi-Fi calling on: RCS can work over Wi-Fi. If you have poor cellular coverage, enable Wi-Fi calling (Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling) to improve RCS reliability.
Check carrier settings updates: Occasionally, carriers push updates. Go to Settings > General > About and wait a few seconds – if a carrier update is available, a prompt will appear.
Use the “Send as SMS� fallback: If RCS fails, your iPhone will automatically send as SMS. You can force this by tapping and holding the message and choosing “Send as Text Message.�
Group chats: RCS group chats work better than MMS, but all participants must have RCS enabled. If someone doesn’t, the group may revert to MMS.
Battery life: RCS uses data, so it can drain battery slightly faster. If you’re concerned, use Wi-Fi when possible.

Troubleshooting

RCS toggle is missing: This usually means your carrier doesn’t support RCS on iPhone yet. Contact your carrier to ask when they’ll enable it. You can also try resetting network settings (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Reset Network Settings) – this won’t erase data but will re-sync carrier settings.

Messages still show as SMS: If you see “Text Message� without “RCS� in the compose bar, RCS isn’t active for that conversation. Check that the recipient has RCS enabled on their Android phone (most modern Android phones have it on by default via Google Messages). Also, ensure your iPhone has a data connection – RCS won’t work on cellular-only voice.

RCS messages fail to send: Try toggling RCS off and on again. Then restart your iPhone. If that fails, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This clears Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth connections, so be prepared to re-enter them.

Read receipts not working: Both you and the recipient must have read receipts enabled. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Send Read Receipts. On Android, it’s usually in Google Messages settings. Also, some carriers may not support read receipts over RCS yet.

Group chat issues: If a group chat with Android users isn’t working, ask everyone to check that RCS is enabled. If someone is using an older Android phone without RCS, the group will fall back to MMS, which has size limits and no typing indicators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to pay extra for RCS?
A: No, RCS is free as long as you have a data plan. It uses your cellular data or Wi-Fi, so it doesn’t count against your SMS limit.

Q: Will RCS work internationally?
A: Yes, as long as your carrier supports RCS and you have data roaming enabled. Some carriers may charge for data roaming, so check your plan.

Q: Can I use RCS with non-Google Android phones?
A: Yes, any Android phone that supports RCS (most modern ones do) can communicate with your iPhone via RCS, as long as the messaging app supports it. Google Messages is the most common.

Q: Does RCS work over Wi-Fi?
A: Yes, RCS works over Wi-Fi. This is handy when you have poor cellular coverage.

Q: Is RCS encrypted?
A: Standard RCS is not end-to-end encrypted. However, Google Messages offers end-to-end encryption for RCS chats between Android users, but that encryption does not extend to iPhone-to-Android RCS conversations. For sensitive info, use iMessage or a secure app like Signal.

Q: Why do my messages still show as green bubbles?
A: Green bubbles appear for SMS/MMS and RCS messages to Android users. RCS doesn’t change the bubble color – it only adds features like typing indicators and read receipts. Blue bubbles are reserved for iMessage (iPhone-to-iPhone).

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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