After months of testing, Google has started enabling RCS for all users. The functionality was already available, but now the default setting is to be “active” for all users. Along with this has been added E2E encryption of group messages for Google Messages.

The functionality should be automatically activated for all new and existing Google Messages users. The option is disabled only for users who have previously disabled RCS.

In addition to the encryption of messages between two users that has been available since several years ago, with the new update Google will also enable encrypted group conversations. This requires that all participants in the conversation have RCS activated on their devices. Interestingly, if you try to deactivate this functionality, you will receive a message that you will be disconnected and will not be able to participate in group chats.

RCS or “Rich Communication Services” is a new standard for dynamic and secure messaging. The standard is designed to replace SMS and MMS which are currently still in use.

RCS borrows some of the functionality of modern text messaging apps. So users can see if their message has been read or if the interlocutor is currently writing a reply, it is visible. In addition, it is possible to share images, videos, audio files, various stickers and animated images (GIFs), as well as special effects for messages. RCS also supports group chats. Location can also be shared in messages. Perhaps most importantly, these messages are sent over Wi-Fi or mobile internet, not SMS.

How to check if RCS is active

The new functionality should be automatically activated for all users. If for some reason RCS isn’t activated, here’s how to activate it.

First, open Google Messages. In the upper right corner, click on your picture, or if you don’t have a picture set, an icon. Select “Messages settings” (“Messages settings” in Macedonian). RCS settings are first in the open list.