18 simple tips and tricks to get started with RCS

Forget WhatsApp and iMessage. Google Messages is the best RCS messenger, and thanks to new end-to-end encryption, it’s even better. It comes preinstalled on every Android device, from the cheapest phones to the most luxurious flagships.

Despite its availability, it’s easy to miss some of the app’s most useful features. We gathered the best of these, along with some handy tips and tricks, to help you use the app to its fullest potential.

1


Send texts from your desktop computer with Google Messages

While the desktop version of Google Messages has fewer features than the Android app, it’s more than enough to view, send, and reply to messages from your computer.

Here’s how to set up Google Messages on a desktop browser:

1. Open
   
   
   Google Messages for web
   
   
   on your desktop browser.

2. Open the
   
   
   Google Messages app
   
   
   on your phone.
3. Tap the
   
   
   three-button menu
   
   
   in the upper-left corner of your screen.
4. Tap
   
   
   Device pairing
   
   
   .
5. Tap
   
   
   QR code scanner
   
   
   .

   
   

   
   

6. Scan the QR code on Messages for web.

If you use a private computer, toggle the

Remember this computer

switch when you open Google Messages for web. If you leave this off, your phone won’t automatically reconnect when you reopen the website. However, leave it off if you’re using a public computer.

2


Activate Google Messages’ RCS chat features

The most important feature of Google Messages is RCS compatibility. Activating RCS chat in Google Messages brings end-to-end encryption, typing indicators, and read receipts to your messages. However, they don’t work when chatting with a non-RCS app (for example, iMessage). In this situation, you must use SMS.

Not sure if RCS is activated for a chat? A padlock icon appears next to your messages when RCS is activated.

Here’s how to activate chat features in Google Messages:

1. Tap your
   
   
   
   profile
   
   picture
   
   
   
   
   
   in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap
   
   
   Messages s
   
   
   
   ettings
   
   
   .
3. Tap
   
   
   Chat features
   
   
   .

   
   

   
   

4. Turn on
   
   
   Enable chat features
   
   
   .
5. Tap
   
   
   Verify your number
   
   
   .

   
   

   
   

6. Enter your phone number and tap
   
   
   Verify now
   
   
   .
7. Toggle the rest of the switches to activate additional RCS features.

   
   

   
   

3


Verify end-to-end encryption

Google Messages automatically encrypts your messages once you’ve turned it on, provided both you and your receiver use the most updated version of the app. Sometimes, however, you want to double-check. Here’s how:

1. While in a chat, tap the
   
   
   three dots
   
   
   in the upper-right corner.

   
   

   
   

2. Tap
   
   
   Details
   
   
   .
3. Select
   
   
   Verify encryption
   
   
   .

Another easy way to see if your conversation is encrypted is to look for the lock symbol under the most recent sent message. If it’s there, the message is encrypted.

4


Schedule a text to send later in Google Messages

Scheduling a text in Google Messages works for both RCS and SMS chat. With this feature, you can send text messages at any time in the future and edit them before they are sent.

Here’s how to schedule a text:

1. Open a chat and type your message into the chatbox.
2. Tap and hold the
   
   
   Send
   
   
   button.
3. Tap a preselected date and time, or tap
   
   
   Pick date and time
   
   
   to choose your own time.

   
   

   
   

5


Mark important messages within Google Messages

You can place a star next to messages for easy reference and to avoid losing important ones. Google Messages also automatically suggests you “star” messages containing important information like addresses and phone numbers.

Here’s how to star messages manually:

1. Tap and hold the message you wish to star.
2. Tap the
   
   
   star
   
   
   button at the top of your screen.

   
   

   
   

Here’s how to view your starred messages:

1. Return to Google Message’s homescreen.
2. Tap the
   
   
   three-button menu
   
   
   in the upper-left corner of your screen. Alternatively, tap the search bar at the top of your screen, then select the
   
   
   Starred
   
   
   category.
3. Tap
   
   
   Starred
   
   
   .

   
   

   
   

6


Set message reminders

Google Messages sometimes automatically suggests that you set a reminder for a time-sensitive message, but you can also do it manually. You can set a reminder any time, and you’re notified through a Messages push notification when the reminder triggers.

Here’s how to set a message reminder:

1. Tap and hold a message.
2. Tap the
   
   
   Reminder
   
   
   button
   
   
   
   
   (the alarm clock) at the top of your screen.

   
   

   
   

3. Tap a preselected date and time, or tap
   
   
   Pick date and time
   
   
   to choose your own time.
4. After setting the reminder, an alarm clock icon appears next to the message. Tap this to
   
   update
   
   the reminder.

   
   

   
   

After the time set expires, a reminder missed


message appears next to the conversation. The reminder disappears when you send another message in that conversation.

7


Share your location in Google Messages

Sharing your location in the Google Maps app is easy, but you can save time by sharing it within Google Messages.

Here’s how to share your location with a couple of taps:

1. Open a conversation.
2. Tap the
   
   
   plus
   
   
   button
   
   
   
   
   in the lower-left corner of your screen.
3. Tap
   
   
   Location
   
   
   .

   
   

   
   

4. Tap
   
   
   Send this location
   
   
   to send your current location.
5. Tap the
   
   
   search
   
   
   button
   
   
   
   
   in the upper-right corner of the screen to search for and send a different location.

   
   

   
   

8


Pin conversations in Google Messages

A pinned conversation stays at the top of your conversation list, even when newer messages come in. You can pin up to three conversations, which also appear on Messages for Web in the same order.

Here’s how to pin a conversation:

1. Tap and hold the conversation you wish to pin.
2. Tap the
   
   
   Pin
   
   
   button
   
   
   
   
   at the top of your screen.

   
   

   
   

To unpin a message, repeat the previous steps.

9


Categorize Google Messages conversations

Google Messages has a neat feature lacking in most

other

messaging apps: the ability to keep it organized.

Personal texts, OTP codes, appointments, and special offers clutter your conversations, making it hard to find the important stuff. Categories fix this problem by sorting your messages into three groups: All, Personal, and Business.

These categories appear below the search bar in Google Messages. Tap a category to sort your messages.

Here’s how to turn on Categories:

1. Tap your
   
   
   profile picture
   
   
   
   
   
   in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap
   
   
   Messages s
   
   
   
   ettings
   
   
   .
3. Tap
   
   
   Message organization
   
   
   .
4. Toggle the
   
   
   View messages by category
   
   
   slider to
   
   
   on
   
   
   .

   
   

   
   

This feature is not available in all countries.

10


Receive iMessage reactions

iMessage users can react to your message, and you’ll see the

emoji

on your screen. But if you still see the “Liked your SMS


message,” you must turn on this option. Here’s how to see iMessage reactions from your friends who use iPhones:

1. Tap your
   
   
   profile picture
   
   
   
   
   
   in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap
   
   
   Messages s
   
   
   
   ettings
   
   
   .
3. Tap
   
   
   Advanced
   
   
   .
4. Toggle the
   
   
   Show iPhone reactions as emoji
   
   
   slider to
   
   
   on
   
   
   .

   
   

   
   

In a reverse-Uno, iMessage users are now the ones who won’t receive reactions from RCS users and will instead be notified that you liked their message.

11


Auto-delete authentication codes

Categorizing your messages is a neat way to stop authentication codes (OTPs) from cluttering your conversations, but they don’t need to stick around forever. You can manually delete them, but Google Messages can automatically delete these codes after 24 hours.

Here’s how to set up automatic deletion for OTPs:

1. Tap your
   
   
   profile picture
   
   
   
   
   
   in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap
   
   
   Messages s
   
   
   
   ettings
   
   
   .
3. Tap
   
   
   Message organization
   
   
   .
4. Toggle the
   
   
   Auto-delete OTPs after 24hrs
   
   
   slider to
   
   
   on
   
   
   .

   
   

   
   

12


Receive automatic birthday and message reminders

Google Messages can automatically remind you of your contacts’ birthdays. These conversations are moved to the top of your list until either a message is sent or the reminder is dismissed.

Here’s how to let Google save you the embarrassment of missing someone’s birthday:

1. Tap your
   
   
   profile picture
   
   
   
   
   
   in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap
   
   
   Messages s
   
   
   
   ettings
   
   
   .
3. Tap
   
   
   Suggestions
   
   
   .
4. Tap
   
   
   Nudges
   
   
   .

   
   

   
   

5. Toggle the
   
   
   Suggest messages reminders
   
   
   slider to
   
   
   on
   
   
   .
6. Toggle the
   
   
   Birthday reminders
   
   
   slider to
   
   
   on
   
   
   .

   
   

13


Make a video call inside a conversation

Rather than switching apps, you can video call your contact from inside Google Messages. You’ll need to invite them to Google Meet first, but it’s a quick and simple process for them. Here’s how to call someone whether they have Meet or not.

How to call a contact already on Meet:

1. Open the conversation you wish to call.
2. Tap the
   
   
   Meet
   
   
   button in the upper-right corner of your screen.
3. Tap the red
   
   
   Call
   
   
   button in the lower-right corner of your screen.

   
   

   
   

How to call a contact who doesn’t have Meet installed:

1. Open the conversation you wish to call.
2. Tap the
   
   
   Meet
   
   
   button in the upper-right corner of your screen
3. Tap the
   
   
   Compose an invite
   
   
   button to send an SMS with an invite link.

   
   

   
   

4. Send the SMS and wait for your contact to accept the invite.

   
   

14


Change the notification sound for each conversation

Some conversations are more important than others. Changing the notification sound for each conversation lets you know which contact is texting you.

Here’s how to change the notification sound:

1. Open a conversation.
2. Tap the
   
   
   three-line menu
   
   
   button in the upper-right corner of your screen.
3. Tap
   
   
   Details
   
   
   .

   
   

   
   

4. Tap
   
   
   Notifications
   
   
   .
5. Scroll down and tap
   
   
   Sound
   
   
   .

   
   

   
   

6. Choose a sound and tap
   
   
   Save
   
   
   in the upper-right corner of your screen.

   
   

15


Always send videos by a wGoogle Photos link

Sending a video over MMS can take a lot of time and data. Instead, link to your video stored within Google Photos. It’s quicker and potentially cheaper than sending a video via MMS.

Here’s how to send videos via Google Photos:

1. Tap your
   
   
   profile picture
   
   
   in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap
   
   
   Messages Settings
   
   
   in the pop-up window.
3. Tap
   
   
   Google Photos
   
   
   .
4. Toggle the
   
   
   Always send videos by link
   
   
   switch.

   
   

   
   

16


View transcriptions of voice messages

Voice messages are a great accessibility feature, but sometimes, you may be unable to listen to them. Owners of the Google Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro can transcribe voice messages, so you can read and respond without having to play them.

This feature is activated by default. Tap the

View transcript

button on a voice message to open it. Tap the

Settings

button on a transcript to turn off this feature.

17


React to SMS and RCS texts

Google Messages supports emoji reactions for SMS and RCS texts. Just note that iMessage users see an “emoji] to [message]” text instead of your reactions.

To react to a text message, tap and hold the message. Select one of the emojis to send a reaction instantly.

18


Reply to messages

You can reply to messages within individual or group RCS conversations to keep track of messy chats. If you’ve ever used

Slack

or Teams, you’ll be familiar with these types of replies. This feature is only available for RCS conversations.

To reply to an RCS message, tap and hold the message. Tap the arrow to the right of the message, and enter your message.

Google Messages with RCS is the future of messaging

Google Messages is hands-down the best way to communicate on Android. You’ll find it preinstalled in the app drawer or, in the case of Google Pixel phones, as your default messaging app. Google Messages shows what the future of messaging should look like, thanks to end-to-end encryption, the ability to sort messages, birthday reminders, and a list of other useful features. It’s often preinstalled alongside Google Phone, which offers lots of useful features to improve the quality of your voice calls.