Google Messages brings Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging to your Android smartphone. Google Messages enhances messages between a wide variety of devices and offers better messaging features, such as real-time spam detection, custom themes, screen effects, and more. RCS is supported by most carriers, over 500 Android device manufacturers, and on iPhone with iOS 18 and later.
IMPORTANT: Cricket’s Advanced Messaging RCS will no longer be available starting June 2026. After this time, RCS messaging will only be available to Android users with the Google Messages application.
Learn more about Google Messages
Frequently Asked Questions
If everyone in your conversation uses RCS-eligible smartphones with RCS turned on, you’ll get enhanced messaging features, such as:
Typing indicators
Delivery and read receipts
Ability to add people to an existing group chat or leave an existing group chat
Larger groups up to 100 participants
Larger file sharing than regular texts
End-to-end RCS message encryption with other Google Messages users (Android only)
Google Messages may already be the default messaging app on your phone. If you don’t have it, get Google Messages on Google Play.
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Tap Install.
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Select Open after it finishes installing.
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Tap and hold Google Messages in the app tray and select Add to Home to create a shortcut on your phone’s home screen.
Yes. Once you install Google Messages, RCS should be enabled by default. To confirm, go to your Messages settings and make sure that Turn On RCS Chats is enabled and Connected.
Good to know: If you’ve blocked your line’s text messages or data, RCS won’t work. Be sure to turn off any text or data blocks.
Your messages will be in SMS or MMS format and RCS features like delivery and read receipts, larger file sharing, and larger groups won’t be available. You may be removed from a group RCS chat without knowing. You may not be able to send a message to an existing group, so you’d have to create a new group to continue with the same message participants.
To avoid these issues and for a better messaging experience, we recommend all Android users switch to Google Messages as their default messaging app.
IMPORTANT: We’re sunsetting Cricket’s Advanced Messaging RCS in June 2026. After this time, RCS messaging will only be available to Android users with the Google Messages application. More information about Google Messages.
