Turn on RCS in the Messages app on Samsung

RCS (Rich Communication Services) is a messaging standard that lets you send higher-quality messages over data instead of SMS text. On Samsung phones, you turn it on inside the Messages app itself — not in system settings. Open Messages, tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner, select Settings, then look for "Chat features" or "Advanced" depending on your phone model and Android version.

Once you find Chat features, you'll see a toggle for RCS messaging. Tap it to turn it on. Your phone will connect to your carrier's RCS network and show you a confirmation message. The whole process takes less than a minute. If you don't see a Chat features option, your carrier may not support RCS yet, or your phone's Messages app needs an update from the Google Play Store.

After you turn RCS on, you'll notice a few changes: message bubbles may look different, you'll see typing indicators when someone is typing back to you, and you can send larger photos and videos. These features only work when messaging other people who also have RCS turned on — if they don't, the message falls back to regular SMS.

Key Takeaways

  • RCS is turned on inside the Messages app under Settings > Chat features, not in your phone's main settings.
  • Your carrier must support RCS for this feature to work, and not all carriers have rolled it out yet.
  • RCS messaging only works between two people who both have it turned on; otherwise messages send as regular text.
  • You'll see typing indicators, read receipts, and the ability to send larger photos and videos once RCS is active.
  • If Chat features doesn't appear in your Messages app, update the app from the Google Play Store first.

Check that your carrier supports RCS

Not every carrier offers RCS yet. The major U.S. carriers — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular — all support it now, but smaller carriers and MVNOs (like Mint Mobile or Visible) may not. If your carrier doesn't support RCS, the toggle in your Messages app either won't appear or will stay grayed out.

To learn about your carrier supports RCS, visit their website or call customer service and ask directly. You can also try turning on RCS in your Messages app — if it doesn't work after a few minutes, your carrier likely doesn't offer it yet. There's no harm in trying; the toggle won't break anything if your carrier doesn't support the service.

Update your Messages app if Chat features is missing

If you open Messages, go to Settings, and don't see "Chat features" or "Advanced," your Messages app may be out of date. Samsung phones come with Google's Messages app pre-installed, and it gets updates through the Google Play Store. Open the Play Store, search for "Messages," and tap Update if an update is available.

After the update finishes, close and reopen the Messages app, then go back to Settings. The Chat features option should now appear. If it still doesn't show up after updating, your phone's Android version may be too old — RCS requires Android 6.0 or newer, though most Samsung phones from the last five years meet this requirement.

What to do if RCS won't turn on or keeps disconnecting

If you turn on RCS but it disconnects or shows an error, first make sure you have a strong data connection — RCS uses mobile data, not SMS. Turn Wi-Fi off and use cellular data instead, because some carriers' RCS networks don't work over Wi-Fi. Wait a few minutes for your phone to reconnect to the RCS network.

If it still doesn't work, restart your phone completely — power it all the way off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. This clears temporary connection problems. After restart, open Messages and check the Chat features toggle again. If RCS still won't stay on, contact your carrier's customer service to confirm your account supports RCS and that there are no network issues on their end.

The difference between RCS and regular SMS

Regular SMS text messages are limited to 160 characters and send over your carrier's voice network, which is why they work even without data. RCS messages send over data and have no character limit, so you can write as much as you want in one message. You can also send photos and videos at full quality instead of compressed versions.

RCS also shows you when someone is typing, when they've read your message, and lets you see delivery status in real time. However, these features only work when both people have RCS turned on. If you message someone without RCS, your phone automatically sends it as a regular text message instead, and you won't see typing indicators or read receipts for that conversation.

Turn off RCS if you need to

If you want to turn RCS off, go back to Messages > Settings > Chat features and tap the toggle to turn it off. Your phone will go back to sending regular SMS text messages. Some people turn RCS off if they're having connection problems or if they prefer the simplicity of standard texting.

Turning RCS off won't affect your phone's performance or battery life in any noticeable way. You can turn it back on anytime by following the same steps. There's no penalty for switching it on and off — it's just a messaging option you control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does RCS cost extra money?

No. RCS uses your existing mobile data plan, just like email or web browsing. You don't pay per message. If you have unlimited data, RCS messaging is included at no extra charge.

Will RCS work if I'm traveling internationally?

RCS may not work outside your home country because it depends on your carrier's network. When you travel, your phone connects to a local carrier's network, and that carrier may not support RCS or may not have a roaming agreement that includes it. You'll likely fall back to regular SMS or data-based messaging apps like WhatsApp.

Can I use RCS on Wi-Fi only?

Most carriers' RCS networks don't work over Wi-Fi — they require a cellular data connection. If you're on Wi-Fi and try to send an RCS message, your phone may send it as a regular text instead, or it may fail to send until you switch to cellular data.

What happens if I message someone who doesn't have RCS?

Your phone automatically sends the message as a regular SMS text. You won't see typing indicators or read receipts for that conversation, and the message will be limited to 160 characters. Once you message someone with RCS turned on, those features come back for that conversation.

Does RCS work with group texts?

Yes, RCS works in group chats as long as everyone in the group has RCS turned on. If even one person doesn't have it, the group chat falls back to regular SMS and you lose RCS features like typing indicators and read receipts for the whole group.